August  20,  1903. 

or   i.o  tell  the  grief  of  those  who  knew  him 
death.     The  fi""*  v 


University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


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ROCHESTER  FORD 


THE  STORY  OF  A  SUCCESSFUL 
CHRISTIAN  LAWYER. 


FATHER  AND  MOTHER, 

S.  H.  FORD, 
SALLIE  ROCHESTER  FORD, 


ILLUSTRATED. 


"  Wherewithal  shall  a  young  man  cleanse  his  wayt  by  taking 
heed  thereto  according  to  Thy  word."  —  Psalm  119:  9. 

•'  Not  slothful  in  business;  fervent  in  spirit;  serving  the  Lord." 
—  Rom.  12:  11. 


PUBLISHED  BY  M.  P.  MOODY, 

OP  THE 

AMERICAN  BAPTIST  PUBLICATION  SOCIETY, 
ST.  LOUIS, 

1904. 


NIXON-JONES   PTQ.  CO.,   215    PINE   ST.,  ST.  LOUIS. 


TO  YOUNG  MEN 

Entering  on  the  activities  and  responsi- 
bilities of  life,  with  the  earnest  hope  that 
they  may  be  helped  by  the  example  of  him 
whose  life  is  herein  recorded,  this  volume 
is  most  affectionately  inscribed. 

THE  AUTHOKS. 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

I.  Birth  and  Early  Childhood   .  1 

II.  Removal  to  Memphis,  Tenn.  7 

III.  Baptism  and  Church  Life.     .  10 

IV.  Life    and    Education   in    St. 

Louis 16 

V.  Entering  on  the  Practice  of 

Law 27 

VI.  Encouraging  Success        .     .  34 

VII.  His  Professorship    ....  40 
VIII.  His  Connection  with  Missouri 

Sanitarium 42 

IX.  Sudden  Prostration  with  La 

Grippe 46 

X.  Life  in  Exile 50 

XI.  Surmounting  Difficulties  .     .  57 
XII.  His  Political  Position  in  Tuc- 
son, Arizona  Territory  .     .  61 


VI 


CONTENTS. 


XIII. 

XIV. 

XV. 

XVI. 

XVII. 

XVIII. 

XIX. 
XX. 

XXI. 
XXII. 

XXIII. 
XXIV. 

XXV. 
XXVI. 


Page. 

Life  in  Tucson  ....  68 
Characteristics  ....  75 
Eochester  Ford  as  a  Speaker  85 
Rochester  Ford  as  a  Writer  96 
Serious  Monitions  .  .  110 
His  Last  Trip  to  Wash- 
ington City  ....  113 
Extracts  from  Letters  of 

1902 116 

Summer  Visit  Home  and 

Return  to  Tucson.  .  .  124 
His  Mother's  Visit  to  Him  132 
His  Last  Return  to  St. 

Louis 137 

Memorial  Services  .  .  146 
Some  Testimonials  from 

the  Many  Received  .  159 
Some  Extracts  from  the 

Press 247 

Hon.  Rochester  Ford,  by 

Mrs.    Sarah    Dodge. 

Lines    by   Mrs.    M.    J. 

Clemson  .  264 


CONTENTS.  vii 

Page. 

XXVII.  Letter    of     Dr.  Howard 

Osgood,  D.D.  Letters 

of     President    H.     G. 

Weston,  D.D.,  LL.D.  267 

XXVIII.  Concerning   Them   Who 

Are  Asleep  in    Jesus  .  275 
XXIX.   Heaven     "My    Father's 
House  "  —  Many  Man- 
sions. .  288 


The  Story  of  a  Successful  Christian 
Lawyer. 

CHAPTER  I. 

BIRTH  —  EARLY    CHILDHOOD. 

uNot  slothful  in  business,  fervent  in 
spirit,  serving  the  Lord." 

u  Whosoever  liveth  and  believeth  in 
me  shall  never  die,"  said  the  Lord  of  the 
living  and  the  dead. 

"  The  life  I  now  live  I  live  by  faith  in 
the  son  of  God,"  wrote  the  celestial  hero 
Paul. 

A  LIFE  LIVED  in  the  strength  of  faith, 
in  the  light  of  love,  in  concentrated 
thought  —  in  lofty  aim  and  noble  purpose 
—  with  a  heart  to  sympathize  —  a  hand 
to  do  and  a  voice  to  utter  kind  and  help- 
ful words  —  a  life  thus  led,  though  brief, 
lives  on  in  time  and  eternity. 

(i) 


2  ROCHESTER   PORD. 

"Man  lives  in  deeds,  not  years,  in 
thoughts,  not  hreaths,  and  he  most  lives 
who  thinks  most,  feels  the  noblest,  acts 
the  best."  We  read  of  the  first  man 
who  died,  "  He  being  dead  yet  speaketh," 
and  in  a  degree  beyond  human  realiza- 
tion or  thought,  the  character  —  the  deeds, 
the  words  of  those  who  lived  for  God  and 
their  fellow-men,  live  on,  and  influence 
men  and  glorify  God  through  all  time. 
The  burning  and  glorious  light  though 
shaded  in  some  measure  by  death,  unrec- 
ognized, it  may  be,  still  burns  and  shines, 
and  when  it  can  be  unobtrusively  done, the 
shade  should  be  lifted  that  the  light  may 
still  be  seen  —  the  life  still  live  and  the 
dead  yet  speak  in  silent,  impressive  elo- 
quence. 

On  the  twenty-fourth  of  June,  eighteen 
hundred  and  fifty-seven,  the  writer  was 
expected  to  fill  an  appointment  at  the 
commencement  exercises  of  Georgetown 
College,  Kentucky,  a  hundred  miles  dis- 
tant from  Louisville,  his  home.  He  kept 


A    SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  3 

his  engagement,  and,  not  waiting  for  the 
closing  scenes,  returned  at  once.  It  was 
to  find  a  sweet,  black-haired,  bright-eyed 
baby  boy  nestling  in  his  smiling  mother's 
arms  with  aunts  and  dear  friends  many, 
gladdened  by  the  presence  of  the  heav- 
enly visitor  whom  God  had  sent  us.  We 
gratefully  recognized  the  gift  as  from  our 
Father  and  dedicated  the  boy  to  the 
blessed  Giver. 

We  called  him  "  Rochester,"  thus  link- 
ing him  not  only  with  his  mother's  name 
but  also  with  her  Rochester  relatives  in 
Rochester  City,  New  York,  as  well  as 
with  her  immediate  family  in  Ken- 
tucky. 

There  was  joy  in  the  home.  A  new 
light  had  dawned  on  us,  a  new  life  had 
become  one  with  ours,  an  immortal 
spirit  in  mortal  vestment.  A  mind  with 
all  its  measureless  powers,  a  man  in  in- 
fant form  had  been  intrusted  to  our  care 
to  be  taught,  trained,  furnished  and  fitted 
for  life's  duties  and  heaven's  glories. 


4:  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

What  a  sublime  responsibility  !  How  it 
chastened  our  souls. 

Weeks  passed.  The  smile  of  heaven 
heightened  the  joys  which  awoke  with 
new  beauties  as  the  bright  beaming  eyes 
noticed  and  recognized  and  the  cherub 
lips  smiled  and  the  tiny  hands  clasped. 

At  midnight,  after  hours  of  literary 
labor,  the  father  entered  the  room  of 
mother  and  babe.  The  little  one  lay  in  a 
crib  beside  the  mother's  bed  sleeping 
'neath  the  care  of  his  guardian  angel. 
What  a  beautiful  picture !  The  father 
knelt  and  in  tearful  earnestness,  with 
faith  in  the  promises  of  God  and  with 
heartfelt  holy  vow  gave  that  baby  boy  to 
the  Lord,  beseeching  that  from  childhood 
the  Holy  Spirit  might  lead  him,  and  that 
early  in  life  he  might  be  "  born  again  to 
a  living  hope  "  —  made  a  chosen  vessel  — 
a  servant  of  the  Highest,  a  blessing  to 
the  home,  to  the  cause  of  Christ  —  to  the 
world.  That  midnight  prayer  was  heard, 
was  answered.  Our  God  be  praised. 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  5 

He  was  the  charm  of  the  household. 
He  added  to  great  sprightliness  a  genial, 
winsome  way  that  won  entrance  to  all 
hearts.  He  was  a  regular  boy  —  self- 
reliant,  self-respecting,  fond  of  sport, 
courageous,  with  a  certain  degree  of 
resentment  that  did  not  allow  any  impo- 
sition upon  his  supposed  rights.  He 
early  manifested  a  decided  taste  for 
books,  loving  to  handle  them  and  study 
the  pictures  even  when  they  were  upside 
down.  He  cared  but  little  for  toys  priz- 
ing only  his  alphabetical  blocks  and 
hobby-horse.  He  learned  his  letters  no 
one  knew  how,  for  his  parents  were  averse 
to  taxing  the  active  mind  that  moved  a 
not  very  strong  body. 

As  soon  as  he  could  walk  the  distance 
to  church  —  there  were  no  street  cars  in 
Louisville  at  that  time  —  he  would  accom- 
pany his  mother  and,  seated  beside  her, 
would  listen  with  the  utmost  gravity  to  his 
father's  sermon,  receiving  impressions  no 
doubt  that  influenced  his  after  life. 


6  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

The  congregation  all  loved  the  pastor's 
u  little  Rochester  "  and  he  loved  them, 
learning  as  the  years  passed  by,  their  faces 
and  names,  and  always  greeting  each  one 
with  a  trustful  smile,  for  he  believed  them 
all  to  be  brothers  and  sisters  of  his  father 
and  mother. 

At  the  age  of  five  years  he  was 
taken  by  his  parents  to  Mobile,  from 
thence  into  Georgia,  where  the  effects  of 
the  extreme  winter  climate  were  greatly 
counteracted  and  he  grew  perceptibly 
stronger.  Returning  to  Mobile,  he 
entered  a  private  school  taught  by  the 
Misses  Moss.  At  this  period  he  could 
read  quite  well,  having  in  a  great  meas- 
ure taught  himself.  But  he  did  not  like 
"Miss  Maria  Moss,"  and,  coming  home 
one  day  quite  excited,  he  declared  she 
"  had  insulted  him  and  he  would  not  go 
back  to  school  any  more."  Nor  did  he. 
It  seemed  wiser  under  the  circumstances, 
as  his  physician  did  not  approve  of  con- 
finement for  him,  to  keep  him  at  home 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  7 

and  let  him  play  in  the  park  with  his  sister 
Fanny  and  little  baby  brother  Noble  with 
their  nurses  "  Aunt  Lizzie  "  and  "  Wil- 
liam." Here  his  attendance  at  the  Sun- 
day-School of  the  Saint  Francis  Street 
Baptist  Church  was  regular,  and  it  could 
be  seen  his  young  mind  and  heart  were 
deeply  impressed  with  the  truths  of  the 
Word.  He  was  unusually  attached  to 
his  home  and  consequently  did  not  min- 
gle promiscuously  with  the  boys  of  his 
age.  He  loved  the  family  servants  and 
they  regarded  him  with  an  interest  tender 
and  respectful,  and  so  "  little  Mars'. 
Rochester7'  was,  as  he  had  ever  been,  the 
pet  of  the  home. 

CHAPTER  II. 

REMOVAL  TO  MEMPHIS,  TENN. 

The  physicians  of  Mobile  who  were 
called  upon  to  attend  him  in  the  attacks 
to  which  children  are  subject,  all  ad- 
vised his  removal  to  a  more  northern 


8  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

climate,  and  in  the  spring  of  1865  the 
family  sought  a  home  in  Memphis,  Tenn. 
Rochester  was  not  desirous  for  the 
change.  He  loved  the  beautiful  South 
with  its  grand  magnolias,  its  fruitful 
orange  and  lemon  trees,  its  varied  wealth 
of  flowers,  but  above  all  the  wide  spread- 
ing leafy-bonghed  live  oaks  that  lined 
Dauphin  Way.  What  glorious  sport  to 
watch  the  little  boats  of  the  oyster  gath- 
erers as  they  came  gliding  up  the  bay, 
like  so  many  white  swans  on  dress  parade. 
And  then  the  excursions  down  the  bay 
to  Fort  Morgan  gave  him  such  a  bound- 
less aqueous  outlook,  his  heart  throbbed 
to  be  a  sailor.  But  the  most  delightful 
of  all  pictures  was  a  ride  down  the  Shell 
Road  to  the  magnolia  forests  whose  tall 
trees  filled  with  thousands  of  pearly  blos- 
soms seemed  to  reach  the  sky  and  bom- 
bard it  with  their  profuse  fragrance .  And 
then  to  say  good-bye  to  "  Aunt  Lizzie  " 
and  "  Willie,"  for  they  could  no  longer 
be  of  the  family,  gave  him  heartfelt  sor- 


A   SUCCESSFUL  LAWYEK. 

row.  All  these  things  were  developing 
a  manly,  resolute  character,  and  giving 
to  his  intellectual  nature  a  marked  im- 
petus. He  was  losing  the  boy  in  the 
coming  man. 

The  trip  through  the  chain  of  lakes 
from  Mobile  to  New  Orleans,  his  stay  in 
that  beautiful  city  with  its  multitudinous 
gardens  of  spring  roses  and  violets,  its 
unique  cemeteries  with  the  dead  lying  in 
long  white  walls,  its  sailing  vessels  which 
bore  him  across  billowy  Ponchartrain, 
giving  him  the  only  opportunity  of  his 
life  to  see  the  great  red  orb  of  the  even- 
ing sun  suddenly  dip  from  sight  as  if  to 
quench  its  glowing  fire  in  the  clear  cool 
water  of  the  lake  —  then  the  old  French 
market  now  in  hopeless  desuetude,  then 
in  its  glory,  the  ancient  Cathedral  and 
Jackson  Square,  with  lovely  drives  here 
and  there,  filled  him  with  wonder  and 
delight  and  gave  to  his  young  mind  much 
food  for  reflection. 

The  sail  up  the  Mississippi,  which  he 


10  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

now  saw  for  the  first  time,  in  the  "Re- 
public," the  landing  at  Memphis,  the 
meeting  with  friends  who  had  visited 
his  parents  during  their  residence  in 
Mobile,  and  all  the  varied  incidents  of  the 
new  home  which  promised  to  be  a  perma- 
nent one,  awoke  in  him  a  new  train  of 
thought  which  manifested  itself  in  various 
inquiries  and  avowal  of  intention  to  do 
something  in  the  world.  This  purpose 
was  assiduously  cherished  by  his  parents, 
who  fully  recognized  his  ability  and 
nobility  of  character. 

The  first  three  years  in  Memphis  were 
spent  in  school  and  in  such  employments 
and  enjoyments  as  usually  engage  boys 
of  his  age.  He  regularly  attended  Sun- 
day-school and  worship  and  was  a  close 
student  and  constant  reader. 

CHAPTEE  III. 

CONVERSION  —  BAPTISM  —  CHURCH-LIFE . 

His  father  took  charge  of  the  Cen- 
tral Baptist  Church,  then  worshiping  in 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER,  11 

"  The  Tabernacle  "  a  huge  structure  built 
of  unplaned  planks  and  covered  in  with 
unseasoned  shingles  which  permitted  the 
rain  to  come  down  on  the  congregation 
whenever  it  chose  so  to  do.  These  were 
the  days  of  reconstruction, and  the  South- 
ern people  with  fathers  and  sons  just 
come  from  the  war  wisely  adapted  them- 
selves to  the  circumstances  and  went 
forward  in  the  worship  of  God,  not 
waiting  to  erect  a  handsome  building, 
but  laboring  for  the  highest  good 
of  their  families.  The  congregations 
were  always  large  in  "  The  Old  Tab- 
ernacle "  and  composed  of  the  best  social 
elements  in  the  city.  Revivals  were 
frequent,  and  a  general  glow  of  fervor 
marked  the  church.  Rochester,  now 
twelve  years  old,  was  a  constant  and  in- 
terested attendant.  He  became  deeply 
impressed.  He  was  specially  affected 
and  convinced  by  the  gospel  truth  which 
had  been  thus  quaintly  expressed  to  him  : 
Religion  has  two  halves  —  the  one  is,  I  am 


12  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

a  great  sinner,  the  other,  Christ  Jesus  is 
a  great  savior.  Prayer  was  earnestly  and 
believingly  made  for  him  in  the  family  and 
also  in  the  congregation.  He  confessed 
faith  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  He  came 
before  the  church,  a  candidate  for  baptism 
and  church  membership. 

Here  was  a  weighty  yet  blessed  respon- 
sibility to  be  met.  Was  it  the  influence 
of  others  who  were  uniting  with  the 
church?  Was  it  a  love  for  his  family  and 
a  desire  to  be  like  them  and  with  them? 
He  had  lost  a  younger  sister,  little  Fanny, 
whom  he  had  loved  intensely,  and  then  an 
infant  brother,  Noble  Bruce.  May  not 
these  strange,  sad  providences,  without  a 
saving  knowledge  of  Christ,  be  moving 
him?  How  we  feared  a  mistake  might  be 
made,  lest  he  be  received  into  the  church 
unconverted.  The  deacons  of  the  church, 
godly  men,  each  talked  with  the  child. 
They  felt  he  gave  satisfactory  evidence 
of  having  passed  from  death  unto  life. 
But  the  mother  hesitated.  She  could 


A    SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  13 

not  have  her  boy  self-deceived.  There 
was  a  Presbyterian  minister  noted  for 
his  unfeigned  piety  and  daily  walk  with 
the  Lord.  This  brother,  who  had  been 
converted  at  twelve  years  of  age,  was 
asked  to  converse  with  Rochester.  He 
did  so  very  fully,  and  testified  to  the 
child's  heart  knowledge  of  the  way  of 
salvation  and  to  his  trust  in  the  merits 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  in  nothing 
else. 

Rochester  came  forward  at  a  Wednes- 
day night  meeting,  when  the  usual  invi- 
tation was  given,  together  with  several 
older  persons.  The  father  asked  three  of 
the  elderly  deacons  to  take  his  boy  aside 
and  hear  his  experience  and  report  to  the 
church.  This  they  did.  They  testified 
he  had  given  blessed  evidence  of  the  new 
birth. 

According  to  the  Southern  custom  the 
hand  of  welcome  by  each  of  the  mem- 
bers was  given  him. 

Oh,  what  a  moment  of  grateful  joy  was 


14  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

that  to  his  parents ;  and  also  to  one  who 
had  watched  over  him  with,  we  might 
say,  angelic  devotion  —  his  "  Aunt  Sue," 
long  since  gone  to  her  reward.  That 
welcome  and  the  following  baptismal 
scene  are  a  fadeless  memory  pointing  ever 
to  the  greeting  and  glory  of  the  resurrec- 
tion morning. 

And  now,  young  as  he  was,  his  devoted 
life-service  commenced.  He  at  once 
joined  with  other  youths,  all  considera- 
bly older  than  himself,  in  organizing  a 
u  young  men's  prayer-meeting."  It  was 
arranged  to  distribute  tracts  and  to  invite 
the  unconverted  to  the  prayer-meeting. 
Their  efforts  were  greatly  blest  to  them- 
selves and  to  others.  His  interest  and 
constant  activities  were  recognized  by 
the  church,  and  when  but  thirteen  years 
of  age  he  was  sent  with  the  messengers 
as  a  representative  to  the  West  Tennes- 
see Baptist  Convention  at  Brownsville. 
He  showed  an  intense  interest  in  all  its 
proceedings,  surprising  in  one  so  young. 


A    SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  15 

This  interest  in  the  cause  of  Christ  con- 
tinued to  grow  through  every  year  of  the 
thirty-three  of  his  subsequent  life.  His 
education  was  liberal.  He  had  never  to 
be  urged  to  study,  but  frequently  had  to 
be  warned  against  too  great  eagerness  in 
pursuit  of  knowledge,  as  from  his  birth 
he  was  never  robust. 

When  about  thirteen  years  old  he  was 
taken  from  the  High  School  in  Memphis, 
Tenn.,  and  entered  in  a  class  of  Jewish 
boys  taught  by  a  learned  Rabbi.  In  an 
unprecedently  short  time  he  had  made 
remarkable  progress  in  Hebrew  and  then 
in  the  Syriac.  The  object  of  this  course 
was  to  fit  him  for  a  profession  of  Semitic 
languages  if  he  should  feel  inclined  to  fill 
such  position. 

On  a  visit  with  his  father  to  a  neigh- 
boring city  the  pastor  of  the  church, 
Dr.  M.,  who  had  considerable  knowl- 
edge of  Hebrew,  having  heard  of  Roches- 
ter's proficiency  in  that  language  asked 
him  to  read  one  of  the  Psalms  in  Hebrew. 


16  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

He  read  it  without  a  pause.  "  Now,''  said 
the  doctor,  "  translate  it."  "  Oh,  I  am  not 
sure  I  can  do  that."  "Try,"  said  the 
doctor  encouragingly.  He  did  and  gave 
a  very  fair  rendering.  "  Few  professors 
could  do  that  as  well,"  exclaimed  Dr. 
M. ;  and  this  story  the  doctor  told  up  to 
his  death. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

LIFE    AND    EDUCATION   IN    ST.    LOUIS. 

His  removal  to  St.  Louis  when  about 
fifteen,  his  course  through  the  High 
School  and  Washington  University,  must 
be  passed  over  briefly.  Always  a  fine 
student  he  stood  with  the  first,  often  the 
first  in  his  classes,  graduating  from  both 
institutions  with  honor. 

In  1878,  when  about  twenty  years  of 
age,  he  voluntarily  took  down  in  short- 
hand, a  full  report  of  the  proceedings  of 
the  Southern  Baptist  Convention,  held  in 
Marshall,  Texas,  for  the  St.  Louis  dailies, 


ROCHESTER  FORD  (AGBD  19). 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  17 

which  was  copied  in  most  of  the  denomi- 
national journals,  and  when  but  twenty- 
six,  he  was  unexpectedly  elected  assistant 
moderator  of  the  Missouri  Baptist  Gen- 
eral Association  by  unanimous  vote  of 
that  body,  presiding  during  much  of  the 
session. 

During  his  senior  year  in  the  Univer- 
sity an  incident  occurred  that  told 
markedly  on  his  after  life.  It  had  been 
announced  that  a  centennial  historic  dis- 
course would  be  delivered  at  the  Second 
Baptist  church  on  Sunday.  This  was 
during  the  Centennial  Year  of  Baptist 
missions.  The  announcement  attracted 
attention  and  the  Globe-Democrat,  the 
leading  city  daily,  sent  a  special  stenogra- 
pher to  report  the  discourse.  After  the 
dismissal  the  stenographer  introduced 
himself  to  the  speaker  that  he  might  get 
some  names  and  dates  exact.  The  gen- 
tlemanly young  man  was  invited  to  dinner, 
he  accepted.  Here  he  and  Rochester  — 
kindred  souls  —  who  seemed  to  know  each 


18  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

other,  at  once  formed  a  life-long  friend- 
ship. Rochester  at  once  began  to  study 
shorthand,  at  that  time  known  and  prac- 
ticed by  but  few.  He  was  soon  able  to 
accompany  his  friend  and  aid  him  in 
taking  down  public  addresses.  So  dili- 
gent and  accurate  were  his  study  and 
practice  he  soon  equaled  and  then  sur- 
passed the  city  and  legal  reporters. 

The  result  was  (wholly  unexpected  to 
his  parents)  the  city  editor  came  to  the 
house  to  solicit  him  to  take  a  position  on 
the  Globe-Democrat  with  a  salary  of 
eighty  dollars  per  month. 

James  Boyle,  Rochester's  reporter 
friend,  soon  after  became  assistant  editor 
of  the  Cincinnati  Commercial,  then 
private  secretary  to  Maj.  McKinley,  who, 
on  becoming  President,  appointed  him 
consul  to  Liverpool  —  about  the  most 
lucrative  and  responsible  office  in  his  gift, 
and  he  holds  that  position  still.  Amid 
all  his  busy  cares  he  paused  to  write  the 


A    SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  19 

following  tribute    of  friendship  and    re- 
spect :  — 

Consulate 

United  States  of  America, 
Liverpool. 

6th  Oct.,  1903. 
MY  DEAR  DOCTOR  AND  MRS.  FORD  : 

The  news  of  the  death  of  your  son 
Rochester  has  made  me  very  sad.  He 
and  I  were  friends  when  we  were  young 
men,  both  full  of  strength,  vigor  and  en- 
thusiasm. I  grew  to  love  him.  He  had 
a  lovable  nature  —  very  gentle  and  con- 
siderate. I  also  grew  to  respect  him,  for 
I  learned  to  appreciate  that,  combined 
with  his  amiable,  generous  attributes,  he 
had  a  strong  manly  nature,  the  foundation 
of  which  was  religious  conscientiousness. 
Our  ways  in  life  separated  ;  years  elapsed 
before  we  saw  each  other  again  ;  that  was 
long  ago ;  then  we  saw  each  other  no 
more.  But  I  cherish  the  belief  that  my 


20  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

dear  "big  brother,"  as  I  affectionately 
called  him,  thought  occasionally  of  me, 
so  far  away.  I  know  I  did  of  him.  And 
now  he  has  gone  out  of  our  lives  forever. 
My  heart  is  full  of  tenderness  in  thinking 
of  him,  and  his  memory  is  to  me  a  bene- 
diction. To  you,  his  parents  —  who  are, 
I  know,  grateful  and  proud  in  having  had 
such  a  son — 1  send  my  profound  and 
heartfelt  sympathies. 

With  sincere  respect  and  esteem,  my 
dear  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Ford,  I  am 

Yours  faithfully. 

JAMES  BOYLE. 

Rochester  did  not  long  remain  in  posi- 
tion on  the  Q-lole- Democrat,  It  was  in 
many  ways  unpleasant  to  him,  especially 
the  night  work,  so  different  from  his 
former  regular  habits.  But  he  met  the 
tasks  without  a  murmur.  Cigars  of  the 
finest  make,  drinks  of  the  best  quality 
were  constantly  offered  him  by  his  friends. 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  21 

He  would  promptly  decline  with,  "Thank 
you,  I  never  smoke,"  or,  "I  never 
drink."  Nor  did  a  taste  of  liquor  or  a 
glass  of  beer  pass  his  lips  amid  constant 
temptation.  And  never  when  it  was 
possible  for  him  to  attend  a  prayer- 
meeting  or  a  Sunday  service  was  he 
absent  from  his  seat  in  the  house  of  God. 

His  membership  was  in  the  Third  Bap- 
tist church,  and  of  his  devotion  and  dis- 
charge of  duty  amid  his  onerous  work, 
Dr.  George  Lofton,  then  pastor  of  the 
church,  on  hearing  of  his  passing  away, 
wrote :  — 

"  The  notice  of  Rochester  Ford's  death 
brings  profound  sorrow  to  my  heart  as  I 
remember  him  in  his  youth  and  have 
known  something  of  his  manhood  years. 
Trained  up  in  the  way  he  should  go, 
early  professing  the  religion  of  Jesus 
Christ,  combining  brilliant  talents  with 
the  highest  culture,  nothing  could  have 
robbed  him  of  eminent  success  in  his  pro- 
fession, nor  of  extended  influence  for 


22  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

good,  but  premature  affliction  and  an 
untimely  grave.  From  the  start  he  gave 
great  promise  of  high  place  in  his  calling 
and  of  usefulness  in  the  church  of  God ; 
and  all  who  knew  him  and  took  interest 
in  his  future,  will  greatly  grieve  over  the 
fate  that  cut  him  off  from  his  hopes  and 
deprived  the  world  of  his  service. 

"  But  the  will  of  God  be  done.  We  do 
not  understand  the  mysteries  of  that 
providence  which  so  often  subserves  its 
purpose  in  the  young  life  and  the  short 
career.  Rochester  Ford  nobly  fulfilled 
the  divine  purpose  which  gave  him  birth 
and  took  him  away ;  and  though  com- 
paratively young  he  leaves  behind  him 
the  rich  inheritance  of  a  splendid  charac- 
ter and  of  a  well-ended,  though  hardly 
begun,  life. 

' '  To  the  aged  Father  andMother  and  to 
the  younger  brother  and  sister,  I  extend 
my  tenderest  love  and  sympathy  in  this 
dark  hour  of  bereavement ;  and  likewise 
to  the  old  church  of  which  he  was  a  mem- 


A   SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.  23 

her  and  in  which  I  was  once  his  pastor, 
I  breathe  my  condolence.  Parent  and 
church  have  done  well  in  helping  to 
mould  a  character  which  honored  the  day 
and  the  world  in  which  he  lived  and 
which  adds  another  trophy  to  the  grace 
of  Christ  and  the  glory  of  heaven. 

"Peace  to  his  ashes  and  all  honor  to  his 
memory. 

"  Fraternally  yours, 
GEO.  A.  LOFTON, 
Nashville,  Tenn." 

As  has  been  said  the  work  on  the  paper 
proved  very  wearing.  It  was  not  long, 
however,  before  he  was  sought  out  by  Col. 
Schaurte,  superintendent  of  the  United 
States  Secret  Postal  Service,  and  ten- 
dered by  him  the  position  of  confiden- 
tial secretary  at  a  salary  of  $100  a 
month  which  as  soon  as  the  law  would 
allow  was  increased  to  the  maximum  of 
$125.  This  change  was  a  great  blessing 


24:  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

to  him  and  to  his  family.  His  ardent 
love  of  home,  his  habit  of  reading,  his 
enjoyment  of  church  services,  could  now 
be  gratified  and  a  hundred  dollars  a  month 
at  least  could  be  placed  in  the  savings 
bank. 

The  family  could  gratefully  say  in  its 
worship :  — 

11  In  each  event  of  life  how  clear 

Thy  ruling  hand  I  see, 
Each  blessing  to  my  soul  more  dear 

Because  conferred  by  Thee.*' 

He  had  left  Washington  University 
in  the  middle  of  his  senior  year  to  accept 
the  position  on  the  Globe-Democrat.  A 
year  had  now  passed,  he  was  in  a  good 
position  and  saving  money.  But  his 
cherished  purpose  and  the  strong  desire 
of  his  parents  determined  him  to  give  up 
his  secretaryship  with  all  of  its  prospects 
and  re-enter  the  senior  class  and  graduate. 
"An  empty  honor,  "  said  many  of  his 
friends.  "  No/'  he  replied,  "but  some- 
thing to  look  back  upon  through  life  and 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYEK.  25 

a  proof  of  purpose  and  perseverance." 
He  passed  examination  and  graduated 
with  honor. 

"  What  course  shall  I  now  pursue?  ': 
was  the  important  question  with  him. 
He  did  not  wish  to  make  a  mistake  in 
selecting  his  life  work. 

He  was  an  expert  stenographer,  more 
rapid  and  accurate  than  any  in  the  city. 
Should  he  make  that  his  profession?  For 
the  present  it  seemed  for  the  best.  But 
no,  he  looked  beyond  that.  "You  know 
Rochester's  ability  and  attainments,"  the 
mother  said  to  the  president,  Dr.  Elliott. 
"  He  must  now  select  his  future  course. 
What  would  you  advise?"  "Let  him 
study  law,"  was  his  reply.  "He  will 
make  a  success  in  that  line."  He  resolved 
to  follow  Dr.  Elliott's  wise  advice  and 
entered  the  Law  School  of  Washington 
University  at  once.  That  year  he  paid 
his  own  tuition,  clothed  himself,  and 
made  and  saved  five  hundred  dollars  by 
his  shorthand  reporting.  Above  this  he 


26  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

passed  the  examination  with  first  honors 
and  during  that  whole  year  missed  but 
few  services  in  his  church,  taught  in 
Sunday-school  and  took  part  in  the 
prayer  meetings.  Busy  redeeming  the 
time,  with  no  idea  of  companionship, 
doing  with  all  his  might  what  his  hands 
found  to  do. 

He  was  calm,  unobtrusive,  reticent, 
with  a  kind  word  for  all,  a  cheerful  read- 
iness to  help  those  in  need ;  his  motto  : 
"  Wherewith  shall  a  young  man  cleanse 
his  way?  By  taking  heed  thereunto  ac- 
cording to  thy  word." 

The  second  year  of  his  law  studies  was 
passed  with  similar  results  as  the  first. 
He  graduated  with  the  honors  of  his 
class.  It  is  said  he  was  the  only  student 
ever  connected  with  the  Law  School  that 
bore  away  the  honors  of  both  junior  and 
senior  years.  He  now  begun  the  regular 
purchase  of  the  best  authors  that  resulted 
in  a  fine  library. 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  27 


CHAPTER  Y. 

WINTERING   ON  PRACTICE   OF    LAW. 

And  now  commenced  his  profession  of 
law.  The  prospect  was  by  no  means  in- 
viting. But  full  of  hope  and  energy  he 
took  small  cases  before  justices  of  the 
peace.  He  called  them  "  mother's 
widow's  cases,"  as  several  of  them  were 
widows  too  poor  to  employ  a  lawyer, whom 
his  mother  wished  to  see  dealt  justly  by 
and  so  brought  them  to  him.  And  he 
always  gained  his  suit. 

To  encourage  him  and  relieve  the 
monotony  of  the  long  summer  days,  his 
mother  wrote  and  sent  to  his  office  in  St. 
Louis  these  lines,  which  were  found  care- 
fully put  away  with  every  leaf  and  flower 
she  had  mailed  him  during  his  twelve 
years'  stay  in  Tucson  :  — 


28  ROCHESTER   FORD. 


GREETING  TO  ROCHESTER. 

Two  decades  and  a  half  have  gone 

Since  first  with  being  full  and  free 
Thou  earnest  on  that  summer  morn 

A  gift  of  love,  of  joy,  to  me. 
And  who  can  paint  the  rapturous  bliss 

Tny  presence  woke  within  my  soul, 
Or  tell  the  wealth  of  that  blest  kiss 

When  I  thy  form  didst  first  enfold. 

And  'mid  the  tenderness  and  joy 

Of  grateful  motherhood  could  say, 
"  I  thank  Thee,  Father,  for  my  boy, 

I  bless  Tbee  for  his  natal  day." 
Each  look,  each  fear,  each  winsome  way, 

Was  fraught  wilh  interest  grander  far 
Than  centers  in  the  monarch's  sway, 

Or  wraps  the  serried  hosts  of  war. 

How  sweet  the  task,  how  blest  the  boon, 

To  see  unfold  thy  being  rare. 
Each  morning  brought  a  glorious  noon 

And  gladness  left  no  room  for  care. 
And  thus  from  tender  infancy 

With  good,  thy  childhood  e'er  replete, 
Thy  life  came  up  a  melody 

Each  note  of  which  was  full  and  sweet. 

As  time  went  on  each  passing  year 
Fresh  tokens  gave  of  future  joy, 

We  needed  not  the  gifted  seer 
To  paint  the  man  —  we  knew  the  boy. 


A    SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  29 

No  words  of  ours  could  half  express 
Our  growing  faith  and  trust  in  thee 

As  years  made  plain  thou  didst  possess, 
From  sordid  tastes,  a  nature  free. 

And,  too,  we  know  no  coward  thought 

Or  purpose,  lodgment  e'er  could  find 
Within  thy  hesrt.    Thy  soul  is  fraught 

With  outlook  meted  to  thy  mind  ; 
A  rare,  grand  manhood  waits  on  thee, 

Of  all  thy  friends  thou  art  the  peer. 
"  Excelsior  "  must  thy  motto  be, 

Then  come  the  strife;  thou  needst  not  fear. 

Unnumbered  cycles  are  his  span 

Who  knows  himself  and  knows  his  God. 
Beyond  the  angels  is  that  man 

Who  walks  the  way  — the  God-Man  trod 
With  faith  firm  fixed  and  hope  assured, 

Though  demons  plot  and  earth's   snares  crowd, 
His  soul  with  heaven's  own  strength  endued, 

He  stands  erect  and  radiant-browed. 

Success  to  thee,  my  noble  son, 

In  all  that's  great,  and  pure,  and  grand; 
True  to  thyself,  the  battle's  won, 

For  in  this  truth,  all  truth  doth  stand. 
And  when  men  rise  and  call  thee  blest 

And  homage  do  thee  in  the  gate, 
Thou'lt  know,  though  bard,  for  thee  'twas  best 

To  learn  "  to  labor  and  to  wait." 

He  opened  up  a  convenient  centrally 
located  office  down  town.     Steadily  his 


30  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

business  increased  and  soon  he  found 
himself  with  a  good  practice.  About 
this  time  his  parents  removed  to  Fergu- 
son, making  it  necessary  for  him  to 
select  a  boarding  place  in  the  city.  In 
the  providence  of  God,  John  P.  Greene, 
now  president  of  William  Jewell  College, 
had  recently  become  pastor  of  the  Third 
church,  of  which  he  was  a  member,  a 
man  remarkable  for  singleness  of  purpose 
and  force  of  character.  Like  seeks  like. 
There  is  a  subtle  tendency  drawing 
harmonious  and  congenial  spirits  to  each 
other.  These  two  young  men  felt  it  and 
became  at  once  personal,  loving  friends. 
They  selected  rooms  together  in  a  build- 
ing owned  by  a  godly,  venerable  deacon 
of  the  church.  They  studied  together  — 
prayed  together,  and  were  as  David  and 
Jonathan,  soul-friendship,  —  moved  by 
like  principles,  and  cheered  by  like  hopes. 
Differing  in  mental  characteristics  —  like 
notes  of  music,  a  harmony  marked  their 
thoughts  and  purposes.  That  loving  com- 


A    SUCCESSFUL    LAWYER.  31 

panionship  never  knew  a  jar,  but  grew, 
though  separated,  through  life. 

After   he    passed    away   Dr.    Greene 
wrote  :  — 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER  FORD  : 

I  am  sorry  that  I  cannot  attend  Roch- 
ester's memorial  service.  Be  assured 
that  I  would  come  if  I  could.  I  loved 
Rochester.  He  and  I  were  intimate 
friends  for  years.  One  winter  we  roomed 
together.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  con  - 
victions  and  of  tender  charity.  His 
accomplishments  were  numerous,  but  his 
strong,  simple  faith  in  Christ  was  the 
richest  adornment  of  his  character.  I 
shall  miss  him  as  I  go  onward  in  the 
journey  of  life,  but  every  memory  of 
him  will  be  sweet.  How  precious  is  the 
fellowship  of  the  people  of  God !  I 
hope  his  friendship  will  make  me  a  better 
friend  and  a  better  Christian. 
Sincerely, 

J.  P.  GREENE. 

Liberty,  Mo. 


32  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

A  young  brother  then  entering  on  the 
practice  of  law,  but  who  gave  it  up  to 
preach  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation, 
visited  St.  Louis  from  the  interior  of  the 
State.  He  sought  out  Kochester  Ford, 
whose  parents  and  his  had  been  lifelong 
friends.  On  hearing  that  his  friend  had 
passed  away  he  wrote  the  following 
beautiful  tribute  to  his  memory:  — 

Office  of  Administration, 
William  Jewell  College, 

Sept.  llth,  1903. 

"  I  became  acquainted  with  Kochester 
Ford  in  the  early  spring  of  1877.  Our 
ancestors  for  two  generations  had  been 
Christian  brethren  and  close  friends.  We 
needed  no  letters  of  credit  to  one  an- 
other. We  had  many  things  in  common 
and  a  friendship  frank  and  congenial 
sprang  up  at  once  in  our  hearts. 

"  As  a  country  lawyer,  1  came  into  oc- 
casional contact  with  him,  in  a  social 
way.  It  was  foreseen  then  that  Roches- 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  33 

ter  Ford  was  destined  to  be  a  great  law- 
yer and  such  he  was,  in  native  ablility,  in 
painstaking  accuracy,  in  studious  and 
exhaustive  research,  in  what  is  called  the 
judicial  mind,  and  better  than  all  in  exact 
and  conscientious  righteousness. 

In  1885  when  I  began,  under  the  di- 
rection of  the  City  Mission  Board,  the 
resurrection  of  the  old  Park  Avenue  Mis- 
sion, now  the  Lafayette  Park  Church, 
and  the  founding  of  the  Water  Tower 
Mission  —  now  Water  Tower  Church, 
it  is  injustice  to  no  member  of  that  great 
board  to  say  that  Rochester  Ford  was 
not  behind  the  very  chiefest  of  them,  in 
interest  in  the  work,  in  large  liberality, 
and  in  almost  infallible  discernment  and 
judgment.  To  my  mind  Rochester 
Ford's  greatness  never  was  so  lustrous 
as  on  that  day,  when,  broken  in  health, 
he  turned  away  from  such  a  prospect  in 
St.  Louis,  as  perhaps  no  man  of  his  age 
had  ever  had.  There  was  not  one  sigh  of 
despair,  there  was  not  one  groan  of  un- 

3 


34  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

belief,  there  was  not  one  note  of  rebellion. 
God  ruled  in  him  and  for  him  and  it  was 
well  with  his  soul.  To  have  known  one 
such  Christian  as  Rochester  Ford,  is  to 
be  without  excuse  in  the  day  of  judg- 
ment. He  is  evidence  enough  of  Chris- 
tianity. To  be  the  parents  of  such  a  son, 
is  divine  favor —  sufficient  for  a  lifetime, 
though  all  else  should  fail. 

JOHN  ERNEST  COOK. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

FIRST  ENCOURAGING  SUCCESSES. 

The  difficulties  of  a  young  professional 
man  in  a  large  city  are  great,  and  many 
an  ambitious  youth  succumbs  to  the  ob- 
stacles, and,  abandoning  his  cherished 
hopes,  turns  his  steps  into  another  life 
path. 

There  are  the  ex-judges,  the  experi- 
enced and  well-known  practitioners,  with 
numerous  adventurers  from  the  country 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  35 

towns  bent  on  securing  clients.  Every- 
where the  competition  is  great,  the  strug- 
gle fierce,  often  to  terminate  in  failure. 
Rochester  realized  all  this,  and  for  awhile 
he  felt  he  might  be  forced  to  turn  his 
attention  to  journalism.  He  did  not 
relish  the  thought,  but  in  his  seeming 
darkest  day  a  light  broke  on  his  path. 

He  at  this  time  had  an  office  adjoining 
that  of  two  prominent  attorneys,  Judge 
Valliant,  now  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Missouri,  and  ex- Judge  Thoroughman. 
These  two  friends  turned  small  cases 
over  to  him,  most  of  which  he  gained. 
Coming  home  one  evening  he  asked  his 
father  to  walk  with  him.  He  was  evi- 
dently full  of  joy.  Something  pleasing 
had  occurred.  "  Father,  what  do  you 
think !  Col.  Thoroughman  has  offered 
me  a  partnership  in  his  law  practice. 
Won't  this  please  mother?  ?:  "  Indeed  it 
will,  and  have  you  accepted."  "  No, 
I  am  to  give  him  an  answer  to-morrow 
noon.  I  wanted  to  consult  you  and 


36  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

especially  Judge  Madill.  I  wish  him  to 
tell  me  if  he  thinks  it  would  be  better  for 
me  to  build  up  a  practice  myself  or  go  in 
with  an  old  practitioner?  ':  He  was 
advised  to  accept,  and  did  so.  It  was  a 
fine  opening.  But  its  chief  joy  was,  "  it 
pleased  mother." 

Months  of  success  passed,  then  the  part- 
nership was  dissolved.  He  and  the  Col- 
onel had  different  tastes  and  habits,  but 
they  continued  fast  friends  to  the  last. 

He  was  for  some  time  editor  of  the 
weekly  Bulletin  of  the  "Greeley  Burnham 
Grocery  Company,"  the  largest  whole- 
sale grocery  house  in  the  city.  After  he 
entered  on  the  practice  of  law  he  had 
their  business  until  the  house  closed. 

Just  as  the  partnership  with  Judge 
Thorough  man  ended  an  incident  occurred 
which  added  to  his  already  high  standing 
as  a  young  lawyer,  and  also  gave  him 
handsome  remuneration. 

A  lady  well  known  to  the  family  lost 
her  husband.  She  selected  Rochester  as 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  37 

the  administrator  of  her  husband's  large 
estate,  consisting  of  personal  property  in 
St.  Louis  and  several  tracts  of  land  in 
Texas.  To  take  charge  of  it,  he  must 
give  a  large  bond,  $60,000.  How  was 
he,  a  poor  Baptist  preacher's  son,  to  do 
this?  It  seemed  impossible.  He  was 
not  twenty-four  years  of  age.  and  had  no 
property.  Meeting  Judge  Norton  of  the 
Supreme  Court  at  Dr.  B.  F.  Blewett's 
commencement,  the  father  mentioned  the 
facts  to  the  judge,  but  added  u  how  can 
he  get  that  large  amount  of  security?" 
"He'll  get  it,"  replied  the  judge  con- 
fidently; "the  business  men  who  are  his 
friends  know  him  and  will  go  on  his 
bond." 

Returning  to  the  city  that  evening  it 
was  found  that  the  bond  had  been  signed 
and  accepted  and  Rochester  had  charge 
of  the  estate.  Frank  Ely,  of  the  firm  of 
"  Ely,  Walker  &  Co."  was  the  first 
bondsman.  He  was  worth  a  half  million 
dollars,  but  had  no  real  estate  in  the  city 


38  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

as  the  law  required.  He  left  his  business 
and  went  with  Rochester  to  Mr.  Col- 
lins, President  of  Combined  Insurance 
Companies,  and  made  out  an  indemnity 
bond  for  the  whole  amount  and  got  him 
to  sign  the  administrator's  bond.  But 
this  was  not  sufficient.  A.  D.  Brown, 
president  of  "  Hamilton  Brown  Shoe 
Co."  added  his  name.  This  was  followed 
by  Wm.  M.  Senter,  president  of  the 
"  Cotton  Exchange,"  arid  then  by  Henry 
Roach,  a  well-known  architect.  The 
bond  thus  secured  was  accepted  by  the 
Probate  judge,  giving  the  young  lawyer 
immediate  standing  in  the  court. 
"  Father,  "  said  the  grateful  son,  "  had  I 
ever  been  once  drunk — had  ever  loafed 
about  a  gambling  den  or  saloon,  or  bet 
once  on  a  race,  I  could  have  not  got- 
ten that  bond.  Any  such  misdemeanor 
would  have  leaked  out,  confidence  in  me 
would  have  been  destroyed,  and  failure, 
instead  of  success,  would  now  confront 
me." 


A    SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.  39 

His  unquestioned  veracity,  his  legal 
ability,  his  promptness,  his  dispatch,  his 
methodical  habits,  were  known  to  these 
men,  who  had  been  his  friends  and  ad- 
mirers from  his  earliest  manhood. 

"  Godliness  with  contentment  is  great 
gain  having  the  promise  of  the  life  that 
now  is  and  of  that  which  is  to  come." 

The  estate,  though  there  were  very 
embarrassing  difficulties,  because  of  step- 
sons, was  settled  satisfactorily  to  all 
concerned,  yielding  him  a  helpful  per- 
centage as  well  as  giving  him  legal 
standing. 

And  now  business  flowed  in  upon  him ; 
he  had  no  need  to  seek  it.  He  refused 
all  criminal,  and  divorce  cases.  "  I  would 
never  make  a  reputation  in  that  line,  I  am 
sure." 

During  all  this  time  he  was  assisting  in 
every  way  men  of  worth  who  applied  to 
him  for  advice  or  aid  in  securing  a  posi- 
tion. And  not  a  few  men  of  eminence 
can  attest  his  friendship  and  help  when 
they  sorely  needed  both. 


40  ROCHESTER   FORD. 


CHAPTEE  VII. 

HIS   PROFESSORSHIP. 

The  death  of  that  eminent  jurist,  Judge 
Todd,  left  the  chair  of  Commercial  Law 
vacant  in  the  law  school  of  Washington 
University.  A  new  professor  was  to  be 
sought  to  fill  his  place.  The  law  faculty 
recommended  Rochester  Ford.  He  was 
unanimously  elected  to  this  responsible 
place,  the  youngest  man  that  had  ever 
been  chosen  to  fill  so  high  a  position. 

Of  the  estimate  of  a  consistent  Chris- 
tian life  and  its  influence  on  irreligious 
young  men,  here  is  an  example. 

The  large  law  classes  were  to  a  great 
extent  made  up  of  what  are  termed 
"young  bloods,"  sons  of  wealthy  parents, 
and  proud  and  impassioned.  This  was 
especially  the  character  of  Rochester's 
class. 

An  unfortunate  difficulty  occurred  be- 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  41 

tween  two  of  the  students.  One  of  the 
young  men,  afterwards  a  State  senator, 
felt  himself  insulted  and  demanded  satis- 
faction of  his  supposed  offender.  Feel- 
ing ran  high  —  parties  were  formed  — 
the  whole  school  was  embroiled  in  what 
promised  to  be  a  most  serious  trouble, 
should  it  be  a  duel  or  a  "  free  fight." 

Professor  Ford  was  proposed  as  medi- 
ator. He  at  once  accepted  the  responsi- 
bility, going  quietly  from  one  party  to 
the  other;  reasoning  with  them  kindly, 
he  in  a  few  days  had  all  the  antagonists 
ready  to  come  to  terms.  The  affair  was 
honorably  settled  and  the  hitherto  irate 
principals  shook  hands  in  his  presence. 

A  supper  was  arranged  where  all  met 
most  amicably  and  what  had  at  one  time 
foretokened  disastrous  results,  ended  in 
renewing  lasting  friendship.  His  judi- 
cious and  righteous  course  was  eulogized 
by  all.  His  Christian  character  recog- 
nized by  those  wild  young  men,  doubt- 
less had  a  lasting  effect  on  their  after  life. 


42  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

There  is  power  even  over  the  ungodly  in 
a  faithful  consistent  walk. 

About  this  time  he  was  solicited  to  per- 
mit his  name  to  be  persented  to  the  cur- 
ators of  the  State  University  who  were  to 
elect  a  dean  of  the  law  faculty  of  that 
institution.  He  declined.  His  practice 
was  steadily  growing.  His  duties  as  pro- 
fessor did  not  interfere  with  it,  his  lec- 
tures being  given  in  the  afternoon  three 
times  a  week. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE   BAPTIST    SANITARIUM. 

There  was  then  —  along  in  the  eight- 
ies, —  not  a  hospital  or  any  provision 
whatever  for  the  sick  or  the  invalid  among 
Baptists  in  these  United  States.  Our 
afflicted  ones  had  to  go  to  Romanist  insti- 
tutions when  an  operation  was  necessary 
or  special  diseases  needed  special  medica- 
tion. One  man's  heart  became  impressed 
with  this  need  of  the  denomination,  and 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  43 

leaving  Southwest  Missouri  he  came  to 
St.  Louis  to  establish  a  Sanitarium. 

It  was  soon  filled  with  patients.  The 
owners  of  the  building  offered  it  for  sale. 
It  was  bought  for  the  denomination. 
Rochester  Ford  was  one  who  greatly  as- 
sisted in  raising  the  money  for  the  pur- 
chase, giving  of  his  comparatively  small 
means  five  hundred  dollars  towards  it. 

Interest  in  the  institution  rapidly  in- 
creased. The  applicants  for  admission 
could  not  be  accommodated.  The 
churches  through  the  State  were  aroused 
to  the  need  and  benefits  of  the  enter- 
prise and  many  of  them  contributed  to 
its  support.  It  was  soon  found  neces- 
sary to  build  a  large  addition.  Money 
was  raised  to  justify  a  beginning  and  A. 
D.  Brown,  Rochester  Ford,  and  Henry 
Roach,  the  architect,  were  delegated  to 
go  east,  examine  hospital  buildings,  and 
recommend  a  plan.  The  work  was  be- 
gun and  carried  on  to  a  successful  finish. 
With  all  his  business  and  his  professor- 


44  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

ship  he  gave  it  his  earnest  attention.  All 
through  this  period  he  was  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Third  church,  which  had 
recently  built  a  church  house  on  Grand 
avenue  near  Washington  avenue.  That 
noble  institution,  the  Missouri  Baptist 
Sanitarium,  with  its  scores  of  patients  is 
a  monument  to  its  founders,  of  whom 
Rochester  Ford,  the  active,  successful 
young  lawyer,  was  one.  Dr.  W.  H. 
Mayfield,  its  founder,  writes:  — 

"St.  Louis,  Mo., 
"Jan.  18,  1904. 

"  Rochester  Ford  I  always  held  as  one 
of  my  best  friends  and  brothers.  In 
1885  I  went  to  the  "  Ely  Walker  Dry 
Goods  Co."  to  buy  several  white  woolen 
blankets  to  equip  eleven  sanitarium  beds 
for  the  first  Baptist  sanitarium  known  to 
the  world,  which  for  a  year  I  had  been 
constructing  in  my  private  residence, 
1914  IS",  llth.  It  was  not  known  to 
the  world  at  that  time.  None  of  my 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  45 

brethren  in  St.  Louis  having  then  taken 
any  part  in  it.  Our  brother,  Frank  Ely, 
of  whom  I  had  bought  goods  for  sev- 
eral years,  was  much  surprised  at  my 
buying  so  many  blankets,  and  spoke  to 
me  about  it.  I  told  him  what  they  were 
for,  and  about  my  plans.  He  said :  '  I 
want  some  part  in  that  myself ; '  his  at- 
torney, Rochester  Ford,  was  standing  by 
his  side.  He  was  much  pleased  with  the 
idea,  and  said,  '  I  want  a  part  in  it  also.' 
So  we  three  bought  the  blankets,  and  I 
returned  home  with  a  light,  joyful  heart. 
Brother  Ely  was  made  chairman  of  the 
movement,  and  Brother  Ford  legal  coun- 
selor. In  1886,  September,  we  leased 
the  whole  Pausman  property  on  Taylor 
and  West  Belle  at  $100.00  per  month. 
Brother  Ely  remarked  when  we  took  the 
building,  that  if  I  built  up  a  sanitarium 
in  a  year  we  might  buy  the  property. 
We  had  the  building  equipped  and  filled 
within  three  months.  Ever  after,  Brother 
Ford  remained  my  loving  friend  and 


46  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

helper  and  his  kindness  will  be  cherished 
by  me  as  long  as  I  live." 

At  his  death  the  Sunday  afternoon  ser- 
vice was  made  a  "  memorial  meeting,  "in 
which  every  man  present  took  part.  His 
name  will  long  live  in  that  grand  home 
for  the  afflicted. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

SUDDEN  PROSTRATION —  LA  GRIPPE. 

His  law  practice  had  grown  to  be  large 
and  lucrative.  With  every  case  placed 
in  his  hands  he  made  friends.  He  stood 
high  both  as  a  law  lecturer  and  as  a  legal 
adviser. 

But  on  the  summit  of  success,  with 
youth's  hopes  realized,  in  the  midst  of 
health,  vigor,  energy,  and  a  grand  out- 
look for  the  future,  he  was  stricken  down 
by  that  potent,  mysterious  epidemic  — 
la  grippe. 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  47 

On  his  way  to  Chicago  to  attend  to  some 
important  legal  business,  quietly  resting 
in  the  sleeper,  nearing  Springfield,  Illi- 
nois, he  had  a  sudden  hemorrhage  from 
the  right  lung.  Of  course  this  unex- 
pected and  untoward  feature  gave  him 
alarm  and  he  had  the  conductor  to  im- 
mediately telegraph  to  Springfield  for  a 
physician  to  meet  the  train  at  the  depot. 
He  said  to  his  mother  in  after  years:  "  I 
recognized  in  a  moment  that  my  life  work 
was  changed."  The  doctor  was  on  hand 
and  advised  him  to  leave  the  train,  which 
he  did,  giving  up  the  trip.  He  returned 
to  St.  Louis  the  next  day.  Entering  the 
home  with  a  sad  depressed  air  he  told  his 
mother  in  a  few  words  what  had  occur- 
red. A  physician  was  summoned  imme- 
diately. Dr.  Hulburt  regarded  the  at- 
tack but  transient  and  apprehended  no 
serious  results.  He  went  to  his  office  for  a 
few  days.  Another  hemorrhage  on  June 
17,  1891,  prostrated  him,  and  for  five 


48  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

weeks,  he  lay,  as  his  physician,  Dr.  W.  C. 
Glasgow,  a  noted  specialist  in  all  pulmo- 
nary diseases  —  said,  like  a  boat  amid 
rocks  and  breakers  which  might  go  down 
at  any  moment.  But  with  careful  nurs- 
ing day  and  night,  and  the  constant 
attention  of  his  skillful  physician,  who  for 
some  time  called  three  times  daily,  he 
rallied  and  again  entered  on  life's  duties. 
But  the  grippe  was  on  his  lung  never  to 
be  removed. 

By  the  advice  of  physicians  he  had  to 
resolve  to  leave  St.  Louis.  During  his 
illness  Dr.  Glasgow  said  to  him:  "Mr. 
Ford,  when  you  get  well  you  will  have  to 
go  to  Arizona."  It  seemed  providential 
that  as  he  would  have  to  seek  a  milder 
winter  climate,  Tucson  was  selected.  He 
had  interest  in  a  large  ranch  in  Pima 
County  and  was  also  the  attorney  for  the 
stockholders.  It  had  been  his  purpose 
to  go  in  August  to  attend  to  business 
connected  with  the  ranch,  but  owing  to 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  49 

his  feebleness  after  his  recovery,  he  could 
not  make  the  trip  until  the  last  of 
October. 

To  give  up  his  practice  —  professor- 
ship —  his  church,  his  friends,  and,  to 
him,  saddest  of  all,  his  family,  was  a 
crisis  that  tried  his  strong  soul,  but  he 
bore  it  without  one  word  of  questioning. 
God  was  leading.  He  would  follow 
without  asking  the  why  or  wherefore. 
Few  men  have  ever  exhibited  a  sublimer 
faith  than  this  young  Christian  lawyer, 
when  he  bade  adieu  to  all  he  had  so 
fondly  loved  to  become  an  exile  in  the 
far-off  territory  of  Arizona. 

Then  let  it  fade,  this  dream  of  earth, 
When  I  have  done  my  life  work  here, 
Or  long  or  short  as  seemeth  best  — 
What  matters  so  God's  will  appear? 


50  ROCHESTER   FORD. 


CHAPTER  X. 

SOME   FEATURES   OF   HIS   LIFE   IN  EXILE. 

The  trials  of  a  stranger  in  a  strange 
land  were  greatly  mitigated  by  the  royal 
kindness  of  a  friend  whom  he  had  known 
in  St.  Louis,  Mr.  Brewster  Cameron. 
This  generous  gentleman  and  his  wife 
insisted  that  he  become  one  of  their 
household,  receiving  him  not  only  to 
their  hospitality  but  to  all  the  comforts 
and  amenities  of  their  well-ordered  home. 

For  the  first  year  in  Tucson,  a  stranger 
and  quite  feeble,  he  did  but  little  profes- 
sionally. His  work,  however,  followed 
him.  His  life  and  position  in  St.  Louis 
became  known.  His  management  of  the 
cases  intrusted  to  him  gave  him  charac- 
ter in  his  new  sphere  —  his  scholarship 
was  manifested  in  the  addresses  he  was 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  51 

called  upon  to  make,  and  was  appreciated 
by  his  new  friends.  There  was  a  fairly- 
well  endowed  territorial  university  in 
Tucson.  Its  officers  were  appointed  by 
the  Governor.  The  responsible  office  of 
Chancellor  became  vacant.  The  Gover- 
nor selected  Rochester  Ford  who  had 
been  recommended  without  his  solicita- 
tion, to  fill  the  responsible  position  as 
Chancellor.  He  had  no  teaching  to  do, 
his  duties  being  to  preside  at  the  open- 
ing exercises  and  attend  to  the  finances. 
He  discharged  these  functions  most 
satisfactorily  till  other  requirements  led 
him  to  resign.  He  found  in  Tucson  a 
Methodist  and  Congregational  church, 
pretty  strong  organizations,  each  with  a 
good  pastor.  He  attended  the  Metho- 
dist services  and  taught  in  their  Sunday- 
school  and  took  part  in  their  meetings. 
He  made  himself  known  as  a  Christian 
and  while  true  to  his  convictions  as  a 
Baptist  aided  them  in  their  work. 

There  were  few  Baptists  in  the  town 


52  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

and  those  were  scattered,  holding  no 
regular  service.  The  little  adobe  raeet- 
ing-honse  on  Stone  avenue,  in  a  most 
dilapidated  condition,  was  at  this  time 
rented  by  a  party  who  hired  it  by  the 
evening  for  any  kind  of  a  show.  It  is 
said  it  had  been  used  on  some  occasions 
as  a  dance  hall. 

As  soon  as  it  was  possible  for  him  to 
do  so  Rochester  Ford  aided  by  the  few 
Baptists  had  the  house  repaired,  carpeted, 
seated  and  pulpit  put  in.  The  few  mem- 
bers were  gathered  together,  reorganized, 
and  the  feeble  little  band  was  led  to 
active  service.  He  contributed  freely  of 
his  means,  the  only  one  then  who  could 
render  much  financial  aid.  He  led  the 
meetings  —  superintended  the  Sunday- 
school,  and  when  occasion  required  it, 
preached. 

Through  his  influence  and  correspond- 
ence a  missionary  pastor  took  charge  of 
the  church.  Souls  were  converted  and 
the  Lord's  name  honored. 


BAPTIST  CHURCH,  TUCSON. 


A    SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  53 

When  D wight  Moody  held  a  week's 
meeting  in  Tucson  he  joined  most  earn- 
estly in  the  work,  taking  part  in  every 
service  and  liberally  contributing  his 
means  to  meet  expenses. 

When  Boston  Smith  visited  Tucson 
with  his  Chapel  Car  Rochester  Ford  was 
with  him  in  every  service,  following  him 
with  touching  addresses,  pleading  with 
sinners  to  seek  and  find  the  Savior,  who 
died  for  them.  Boston  Smith,  the  effic- 
ient superintendent  of  the  chapel  car  serv- 
ice of  the  American  Baptist  Publication 
Society  in  an  address  to  the  Third  Bap- 
tist church  of  St.  Louis  mentioned  with 
pleasing  acknowledgement,  the  aid  he 
had  received  when  he  held  services  in 
Tucson  from  one  reared  in  that  church. 
He  told  how  he  had  helped  him  with  his 
voice  in  public  and  his  purse  in  private. 
After  a  pause  he  said,  "that  young  man's 
name  isEochester  Ford."  The  audience 
broke  the  stillness  with  an  outburst  of 
applause,  a  demonstration  which  never 
occurred  before  or  since. 


ROCHESTER   FORD. 

Mr.  Crittenton,  founder  of  the  "  Flor- 
ence Crittenton  Mission,"  with  its  rescue 
homes  in  most  of  the  large  cities,  visited 
Tucson  with  his  car  and  tent.  Rochester 
Ford  was  with  him  thirty  nights  and  ren- 
dered him  every  possible  aid.  He  was 
always  deeply  interested  in  the  conversion 
of  his  fellow-citizens. 

Rev.  Merton  Smith,  the  evangelist 
relied  on  him  in  his  telling  series  of  meet- 
ings as  he  did  on  no  other  man.  Indeed, 
no  general  work  for  the  Lord  was  ever 
carried  on  in  Tucson  without  his  pres- 
ence and  prayerful  and  financial  help, 
and  we  feel  it  is  not  overstating  the  case 
to  say  no  man  ever  did  more  for  the  good 
of  Tucson  in  every  way  than  he.  He 
was  broad-minded,  unselfish,  a  citizen 
seeking  not  his  own  but  the  things  of 
others. 

On  a  comparatively  recent  occasion, 
the  pastor  being  absent  in  California, 
some  members  of  the  church  consulted 
him  on  Saturday  to  know  what  was  best 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  55 

to  be  done  under  the  circumstances.  An 
important  case  in  which  he  was  leading 
counsel  would  come  before  the  court  the 
following  Monday  and  he  must  be  pre- 
pared to  argue  it  satisfactorily  to  himself. 

"I  will  conduct  the  services,"  he 
replied.  The  announcement  that  Hon. 
Rochester  Ford  would  preach  at  11 
o'clock  in  the  Baptist  Church  appeared 
in  the  Sunday  morning  paper.  An  emi- 
nent lawyer,  a  friend  of  Eochester,  who 
had  not  been  in  Tucson  very  many 
months,  read  the  statement  with  surprise. 
"  I  don't  go  to  church,"  he  said,  "  but 
I'll  go  to-morrow  and  hear  Ford.  If  he 
can  preach  as  well  as  he  can  plead  it  will 
pay  to  hear  him." 

Sunday  morning  came.  The  lawyer, 
together  with  other  strangers,  was  present. 
Sunday-school  exercises  over,  Rochester 
Ford  took  his  stand  in  front  of  the  pulpit, 
and  with  no  apology  or  word  of  explana- 
tion, simply  announcing  that  the  pas- 
tor, Brother  Thomas,  was  providentially 


56  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

away,  he  gave  out  the  hymns,  read  the 
Scripture,  prayed,  and  announced  his 
text,  the  prayer  of  Jabez — "  Oh,  that 
Thou  wouldst  bless  me  indeed  and  enlarge 
my  coast,  and  that  thine  hand  might  be 
with  me,  and  that  Thou  wouldst  keep  me 
from  evil  that  it  may  not  grieve  me."  1 
Chron.  4-10.  He  preached  a  tender, 
heartfelt,  impressive  sermon  to  a  most 
attentive  audience.  His  mother  was 
present.  Oh,  how  her  heart  was  filled 
with  joy  and  her  lips  with  thanksgiving, 
that  her  son,  eminent  for  his  scholarship 
and  legal  ability,  with  position  that  com- 
manded the  respect  of  all  good  citizens, 
was  also  in  the  highest  sense  a  wit- 
ness for  Christ.  The  lawyer  friend 
was  an  earnest  listener.  The  blessed 
results  of  that  discourse  from  one  whose 
known  life  was  in  daily  accord  with  his 
words,  —  eternity  alone  can  disclose. 
And  the  following  day,  after  preaching 
for  forty  minutes,  he  plead  his  important 
case  before  the  court  and  gained  it.  An 


A   SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.  57 

account  of  it  —  reached  his  father  through 
the  Tucson  papers,  and  on  a  subsequent 
Sunday,  he  being  called  upon  to  preach, 
took  his  son's  text  and  subject,  and 
manifest  blessing  followed. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

SURMOUNTING   DIFFICULTIES. 

He  soon  found  his  practice  so  heavy  he 
had  to  apply  himself  too  closely  to  his  of- 
fice to  admit  much  improvement  in  health. 
Cases  in  the  local  courts,  in  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  Territory  at  Phoenix, 
in  the  Land  Claim  Court,  in  the  Supreme 
Court  in  Washington,  kept  him  not  only 
constantly  engaged  but  much  of  the  time 
fearfully  pressed.  He  never  neglected 
anything.  In  a  case  involving  a  large 
area  of  land  he  found  it  necessary  to 
acquaint  himself  with  Spanish  that  he 
might  study  ancient  records  in  the  ar- 
chives of  old  Mexico,  and  visited  the  city 


58  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

of  Mexico  for  this  purpose.  He  made 
himself  familiar  with  all  technicalities 
of  Spanish  law,  their  method  of  measure- 
ment and  designation  of  areas.  But 
whatever  the  demands  of  his  profession 
might  be,  he  never  for  a  day  neglected  to 
write  to  his  mother  nor  ever  failed,  when 
it  was  possible  to  do  so,  to  be  at  Sunday 
school,  morning  and  night  worship  and 
prayer  meeting. 

Other  evenings  in  the  week  he  either 
entertained  his  friends  at  home  or  read. 
He  made  very  few  social  evening  visits. 

During  these  years  his  Jungs  were 
slowly  undergoing  hepatization.  He 
coughed  but  little  and  only  in  the  morn- 
ing on  awakening,  had  no  fever,  no  night 
sweats,  no  hectic  flush  —  only  trouble 
with  his  breathing  and  great  feebleness, 
the  breathing  at  times  being  so  oppres- 
sive he  could  walk  but  a  few  blocks 
without  pausing  to  rest.  He  had  gained 
such  control  of  his  vocal  powers  that  he 
could  speak  for  an  hour  in  a  clear  distinct 
voice  without  apparent  effort. 


A   SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.  59 

In  a  very  difficult  case  connected  with 
Pima  county  bonds  that  was  carried 
to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States,  he  and  ex-Senator  Carlisle,  now 
of  New  York,  were  counsel  on  the  one 
side,  being  opposed  by  one  of  the  ablest 
firms  in  JSTew  York  City.  Mr.  Carlisle 
spoke  first.  Rochester  Ford  rose  to  fol- 
low. His  mother  then  in  Washington 
to  be  with  him,  at  his  solicitation  was 
present  in  the  court  room.  He  had  that 
morning  mentioned  to  her  his  unusual 
shortness  of  breath  and  general  weak- 
ness. She  listened  with  the  intensest 
interest  to  her  idolized  son,  fearing  every 
moment  lest  he  break  down.  But  he 
spoke  for  an  hour  in  a  clear  impressive 
voice.  Imagine  her  joy  and  thanksgiv- 
ing when  he  took  his  seat  calmly,  and 
did  not  appear  greatly  fatigued.  It  was 
evident  from  the  attention  given  him  by 
the  judges  as  he  spoke  that  he  was  mak- 
ing an  able  presentation  of  his  case. 

On  one  occasion  when  the  decision  of  a 


60  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

case  had  been  already  given  adversely  to 
him  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  Terri- 
tory and  he  applied  for  a  rehearing  in 
Washington,  and  the  case  was  decided  in 
his  favor,  he  wrote  to  his  mother:  "  As 
soon  as  I  received  the  telegram,  I  went 
in  before  the  Lord  with  grateful  thanks- 
giving." He  believed  God's  Word:  "In 
all  thy  ways  acknowledge  Him  and  He 
shall  direct  thy  paths." 

Mysterious  —  yes,  to  our  finite  minds, 
mysterious,  —  that  such  a  man  should  be 
taken  away  in  the  midst  of  such  use- 
fulness. This  very  thing  was  said  to 
him  by  his  father  a  short  time  before 
he  passed  away.  "  No,  no,"  was  his 
calm  reply,  "It  is  all  right,  God  has 
a  purpose  in  it.  Look,  father,  at  the 
fate  of  John  the  Baptist,  the  forerunner 
of  our  Lord,  in  his  young  manhood  in  the 
rnidst  of  widespreading  usefulness  cut 
down  so  suddenly  and  hurried  to  a  bloody 
grave.  God  permitted  this  for  a  pur- 
pose and  His  purpose  in  dealing  with  me 
may  soon  be  unfolded  to  us  all." 


A   SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.  61 


CHAPTER  XII. 

HTS   POLITICAL  POSITION  IN  TUCSON  AND 
ARIZONA  TERRITORY. 

With  decided  convictions  on  all  ques- 
tions that  interested  him,  he  was  an  active 
outspoken  Democrat,  and  when  he  was 
prevailed  upon  to  take  charge  of  the 
political  campaign  it  was  said  by  repre- 
sentatives of  both  parties:  u  Well,  with 
Rochester  Ford  at  the  head  of  affairs  we 
shall  at  least  have  a  clean  race." 

The  United  States  attorney  for  the 
Territory,  a  Republican  and  eminent  law- 
yer, and  differing  from  him  in  his  relig- 
ious convictions  as  well  as  in  politics, 
wrote  for  the  Republican  paper,  The 
Post,  this  candid  and  eloquent  eulogy : — 


62         ROCHESTER  FORD. 


ROCHESTER  FORD. 

(From  Frederick  S.  Nave,  United   States  Attorney, 
Tucson,  Arizona.) 

Rochester  Ford  was  a  man  —  in  the 
deep,  virile  sense  of  the  word.  When 
we  strew  the  flowers  of  eulogy  over  the 
work  and  character  of  some  departed 
friends,  we  find  embarrassment  in  the 
common  occurrence  of  strength  and 
weakness  in  the  same  heart  and  mind, 
good  and  evil  in  the  same  man's  deeds. 
We  eulogize,  because  we  truly  appreciate 
and  revere,  our  friend's  achievements  and 
integrity  as  a  public  servant,  and  so  place 
among  our  flowers  of  eulogy  a  perfect 
red  rose  and  a  laurel  wreath ;  but  cannot 
add  the  white  rose.  When  my  friend,  a 
metropolitan  alderman,  died,  we  recalled 
his  lovely  devotion  to,  and  consideration 
of  his  old  mother,  and  the  loyalty  and 
worship  he  gave  his  wife  and  children  — 
a  family  life  of  wonderful  fidelity  and 
happiness ;  but  he  had  narrowly  escaped 


A   SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.  63 

indictment  because  his  aldermanic  vote 
was  bribed. 

I  think  of  rny  friend  Eochester  Ford 
with  no  divided  thought.  I  praise  his 
life  with  no  half-praise,  or  three-quarter 
praise.  The  bouquet  and  wreaths  of 
flowers  I  place  to  his  memory  is  limited 
in  its  varied  beauty  only  by  the  inade- 
quacy of  the  garden  from  which  it  comes. 
I  do  not  make  the  blind  friend's  mistake 
of  claiming  for  him  perfection.  In  his 
chosen  leader's  language  he  would  re- 
buke:  "Why  callest  thou  me  good!" 
But  his  life,  and  words  and  deeds,  whether 
public  or  private  bring  no  hamper  or  drag 
to  my  eulogy. 

Rochester  Ford  was  one  of  the  ablest 
lawyers  of  Arizona.  He  was  not  a  law- 
yer who  claimed  inerrancy.  It  was  not 
his  character  to  assume  that  he  could  not 
be  wrong  in  a  legal  conclusion.  Therein 
lay  a  great  portion  of  his  strength.  He 
studied  the  law.  When  called  upon  to 
pass  a  professional  opinion,  he  did  not 


64  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

have  it  ready  till  he  had  studied  the 
question ;  had  compared  the  views  he 
developed,  with  the  decisions  of  the 
courts.  I  had  frequent  opportunity,  by 
fortunate  association  with  him,  to  see 
and  hear  him  work  toward  an  opinion. 
I  believe  he  was  not  often  wrong.  The 
records  of  his  litigated  cases  are  a  just 
pride  of  his  friends.  The  lawyer  who 
never  lost  a  case  is  a  myth.  A  great 
lawyer  wins  a  majority  of  his  cases. 
Rochester  Ford  was  a  winner  of  litigated 
cases. 

,  But  Mr.  Ford's  greatest  strength  was 
his  uncompromising  honesty.  If  he  had 
a  fault,  it  was  only  in  a  marked  stern- 
ness toward  or  want  of  sympathy  for 
the  man  whose  power  led  him  to  do 
things  not  "  honest  in  the  sight  of  all 
men."  From  the  great  things  unto  the 
least  things,  Rochester  Ford  was  scrupu- 
lously, exactly,  vigorously  honest,  and 
he  was  a  fighting  apostle  of  honesty,  the 


A   SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.  65 

active,  aggressive  enemy  of  "  graft  "  and 
dishonesty  wherever  they  appeared. 

For  years  Mr.  Ford  lived  under  an  op- 
pression of  ill-health  which  could  have 
put  almost  any  other  man  out  of  the 
fight.  But  this  man  had  the  courage 
and  unrelenting  zeal  of  the  crusader. 
Though  consistently  preserving  his 
strength  as  far  as  possible,  he  was  con- 
stant and  persevering  in  attention  to  his 
business.  He  was  the  regularly  retained 
adviser  of  many  important  business  inter- 
ests and  corporations. 

Rochester  Ford  was  a  political  parti- 
san ;  he  was  a  Democrat  of  Democrats. 
Most  of  us  are  Democrats  or  Republicans 
because  we  are  born  that  way.  Too  few 
are  the  members  of  either  party  who 
know  that  there  are  matters  of  govern- 
mental policy  concerning  which  men 
honestly  and  sincerely  differ  which,  how- 
ever, may  be  obscured  in  every  campaign 
by  "  special  issues,"  that  really  mark  the 
difference  between  the  political  tendencies 


66  ROCHESTER  FORD. 

when  the  Democratic  and  Republican 
parties  respectively  are  in  power.  Mr. 
Ford  was  a  Democrat  from  democratic 
conviction,  really  of  the  Jeffersonian 
type.  His  view  of  public  policies  was 
always  well  considered ;  he  had  substan- 
tial bases  for  his  positions.  His  tem- 
perament was  by  nature  aggressive. 
Therefore  as  in  all  things  else  aggressive 
he  was  an  active  strong  Democratic  par- 
tisan ;  seeking  no  political  preferment  for 
himself,  but  seeking  Democratic  party 
success  because  he  believed  in  his  party ; 
ready  to  fight  with  the  party  to  oppose 
leadership  of  men  whose  leadership  he 
did  not  prize  or  deem  wholesome  for  his 
party,  yet  a  Democrat  always. 

To  complete  his  more  public  life,  Mr. 
Ford  was  of  pure,  clean  private  life. 
Unmarried,  his  great  devotion  went  to 
his  father  and  mother.  At  Nogales, 
during  court,  one  Sunday  at  the  hotel  a 
friend  looked  up  from  a  table  when  writ- 
ing a  letter  and  said:  "  Mr.  Ford,  I  am 


A   SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.  67 

writing  my  father.  I  have  not  missed  a 
Sunday  in  writing  my  father  for  many 
years."  Mr.  Ford  held  up  a  letter  he 
was  about  to  post,  and  replied:  "  Well, 
sir,  my  record  is  better  than  that.  I  write 
my  mother  every  day,  and  have  never 
missed  a  day  !  '  Such  was  his  filial  duty 
and  consideration  during  the  many  years 
he  lived  in  Tucson,  oppressed  and  ill 
though  he  always  was.  He  was  an 
austerely  righteous  man,  an  orthodox 
Baptist,  a  tender  son. 

My  Brother  Ford,  I  appreciated  you 
while  you  were  here.  I  appreciate  your 
memory  now.  On  your  u  adventure 
brave  and  new  ' '  —  Farewell ! 


Dear  Lord,  let  me  grow  from  day  today, 
Clinging  and  hopeful  and  bright, 
Though  planted  in  shade  Thy  window  near 
And  my  leaves  may  turn  to  the  light. 


68  ROCHESTER   FORD. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

LIFE   IN   TUCSON. 

Going  from  a  large  city  with  a  wide 
circle  of  activities,  a  host  of  devoted 
friends,  religious  and  intellectual  advan- 
tages not  surpassed  by  those  of  any 
other  community,  beloved  by  his  family  as 
but  few  men  have  ever  been,  the  natural 
inference  would  be  that  he  in  his  feeble 
health  would  become  despondent  under 
such  changed  circumstances.  But  this 
was  not  so. 

He  had  faith  in  God  and  while  he  could 
not  understand  why  this  trial,  he  sub- 
mitted without  repining  and  entered  upon 
the  duties  that  presented  themselves  with 
purpose  to  be  useful  in  his  new  home  as 
far  as  his  strength  would  permit. 

His  professional  duties,  his  loyalty  to 


ROCHESTER  FORD  AND  FRIENDS. 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  69 

the  little  church  he  so  much  loved,  his 
interest  in  the  Good  Government  Club 
he  was  so  largely  instrumental  in  estab- 
lishing, and  in  the  general  affairs  of  his 
city  and  territory,  his  varied  and  volu- 
minous reading,  the  visits  of  his  friends, 
his  trips  to  Washington  and  New  York 
and  surrounding  towns  on  legal  business, 
his  annual  summer  visits  to  St.  Louis, 
the  daily  letter  from  his  mother,  which 
he  said  was  always  the  happiest  event  of 
each  day,  made  life  as  pleasant  as  it  was 
possible  to  be  to  him  separated  as  he  was 
from  his  family. 

During  the  earlier  years  of  his  resi- 
dence in  Tucson  he  made  social  calls, 
attended  receptions  and  weddings  but 
as  business  pressed  upon  him  and  he  re- 
alized the  necessity  of  husbanding  his 
strength  for  his  ever- increasing  duties,  he 
gave  up  these  enjoyments  and  went  out 
at  night  only  to  his  church  and  when  the 
public  good  demanded  his  presence. 

He  was  not  an  omnivorous  reader,  but 


70  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

a  constant  and  careful  one,  making  se- 
lection of  the  best  authors,  ancient  and 
modern.  His  library  was  filled  with  the 
choicest  works.  The  best  magazines  of 
the  day  were  to  be  found  on  his  tables. 
He  was  in  the  habit  of  annotating  and 
making  clippings  from  the  dailies  and 
weeklies,  which  were  carefully  preserved 
in  well-arranged  books  convenient  for 
reference. 

Ruskin  he  read  with  great  delight  and 
often  quoted  from  this  author.  One 
sentiment  deeply  impressed  him:  u  Oh, 
why  should  we  wear  black  for  the  guests 
of  God."  So  firmly  was  this  thought 
fixed  in  his  mind  that  he  several  times 
expressed  the  desire  that  "  none  of  his 
friends  should  ever  mourn  for  him  in  out- 
ward garb."  He  was  particularly  averse 
to  the  long  crepe  veil,  feeling  it  a  wholly 
unfitting  demonstration  for  Christians. 

He  was  particularly  fond  of  that  class 
of  literature  that  dwells  on  the  enjoy- 
ments and  employments  of  heaven,  and 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  71 

indorsed  with  deep  appreciation  these 
thoughts  of  McFayden  :  — 

"  The  living  we  shall  lose,  but  the  dead 
we  have  found,  never  to  lose  again. 
Theirs  is  the  peace  unshaken,  and  the 
world  that  standeth  fast.  In  communion 
with  the  blessed  dead,  we  are  lifted  above 
the  cares  and  confusions  of  this  world 
into  the  realization  of  our  citizenship  in 
the  Eternal  City.  They  redeem  life  from 
its  littleness  by  shedding  upon  it  the  sol- 
emn glories  of  eternity.  In  their  pres- 
ence all  passion  dies ;  in  their  silent  fel- 
lowship our  hearts  burn  with  holy  yearn- 
ings ;  in  that  brief  hour  of  unspeakable 
communion  the  world  passes,  and  we 
feel  what  it  is  to  stand  within  the  halls 
of  our  heavenly  home." 

While  being  the  chief  support  of  the 
church,  he  was  not  what  is  known  as  a 
"  church-worker  ; "  he  was  a  "  living  epis- 
tle," ever  bearing  testimony,  not  so  much 
in  words,  as  in  Christly  deeds.  His 
daily  life  testified  to  all  who  were  admit- 


72  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

ted  to  his  confidence  that  the  spirit  of  all 
grace  dwelt  richly  in  that  manly  form. 
During  the  revivals  held  in  Tucson  by 
Moody,  Boston  Smith,  Crittenton  and 
Merton  Smith,  he  was  a  constant  attend- 
ant and  aided  in  the  services,  and  his  ap- 
peals fell  with  convincing  power  on  his 
fellow-citizens  because  they  knew  him. 

His  faith  was  firmly  fixed  on  God. 
He  walked  each  day  as  seeing  Him  who 
is  invisible.  To  him  God  is  a  wise  and 
loving  Father  ordering  everything  for 
the  ultimate  good  of  His  children.  He 
believed  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  his 
divine  Savior  and  held  unbroken  fellow- 
ship with  Christ,  humbly  claiming  in  His 
name  the  exceeding  great  and  precious 
promises  the  Father  has  given  us  in  Him. 
He  rested  his  hope  unwaveringly  in  their 
fulfillment  and  thus  he  was  kept  calmly 
resigned  and  comforted  amid  all  his  trials 
and  sufferings  by  the  abiding  presence  of 
the  Holy  Spirit.  He  never  failed  to  hold 
up  truth  —  the  truth  —  whenever  and 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  73 

wherever  it  was  his  duty  to  do  so.  And 
this  fearless  stand  for  what  he  believed 
right  won  for  him  the  admiration  of  those 
who  were  opposed  to  his  views. 

An  incident  occurred  during  the  dedi- 
cation of  the  World's  Fair  in  April  last 
that  testified  to  his  widespread  influence. 

Two  gentlemen  were  eating  sandwiches 
side  by  side  when  in  course  of  conversa- 
tion the  visitor  to  St.  Louis  remarked  he 
was  from  Arizona.  The  St.  Louisan,  a 
friend  of  Rochester's  family,  anxious  to 
know  just  how  he  stood  in  the  home  of 
his  exile,  asked"  Do  you  live  in  Tucson?  " 

"  No,"  said  the  gentleman,  giving  his 
town,  which  was  some  distance  from 
Tucson.  "Do  you  know  any  one  in 
Tucson?"  "Yes,  a  few  persons,"  men- 
tioning some  names,  among  them  "  Roch- 
ester Ford." 

The  interrogator,  wishing  to  ascertain 
just  what  Rochester  Ford's  general  rep- 
utation was,  remarked  nonchalantly : 
"I  believe  Mr.  Ford  once  lived  in  St. 


74  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

Louis.  What  is  his  standing  in  Ari- 
zona?' » 

With  great  emphasis  the  stranger 
answered :  "  Rochester  Ford  is  the  best 
man  God  ever  made?" 

He  was  always  doing  good,  never  over- 
looking the  small  duties  in  search  of 
what  might  seem  to  others  of  more  mo- 
ment. He  bought  the  choicest  selec- 
tions of  hymns  and  gave  them  to  the 
children  of  his  Sunday-school  with  the 
request  that  each  should  commit  a  good 
hymn  to  memory  during  the  week,  to  be 
repeated  the  following  Lord's  day  morn- 
ing. He  also  designated  verses  of  the 
New  Testament  and  Psalms  for  both 
teachers  and  scholars  to  memorize.  He 
purchased  out  of  his  own  means  a  very 
select  and  complete  Sunday-school 
library,  reading  each  book  himself  before 
placing  it  on  the  shelves  of  the  handsome 
book  cases  he  had  presented  to  the 
school. 

Speaking  of  aiding  a  foreign  mission- 


A   SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.  75 

ary  he  writes :  "  He  is  a  servant  of  God 
and  I  take  pleasure  in  helping  him.  I 
am  thankful  the  Lord  blesses  me  in  en- 
abling me  to  aid  others.  Let  me  know 
whenever  there  is  a  worthy  cause  and  I 
will  do  so  as  far  as  in  my  power  lies. 
I  read  with  great  pleasure  the  Missionary 
Leaf  you  sent  me.  Thank  God  for  such 
brethren." 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

CHARACTERISTICS. 

To  have  gained  the  position  and  finan- 
cial success  Rochester  Ford  did  under  the 
circumstances  of  his  life  bespeaks  rare 
characteristics.  When  it  is  remembered 
that  from  his  boyhood  he  had  pursued  a 
course  largely  dependent  on  his  own 
judgment  and  oftentimes  in  the  face  of 
what  others  might  have  regarded  great 
obstacles,  he  went  steadily,  uncomplain- 
ingly and  successfully  forward,  it  is  evi- 


76  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

dent  he  possessed  force  of  mind  combined 
with  just  discernment  and  correct  out- 
look. 

"Success,"  says  Emerson,  "is  a  con- 
stitutional trait."  The  man  who  succeeds 
doesn't  have  to  look  out  for  opportunities. 
He  looks  within  for  them,  and  thus  that 
which  to  others  would  prove  disastrous, 
to  him  becomes  opportunities  for  valu- 
able achievements.  Rochester  Ford  had 
marked  mental  ability.  This  was  realized 
from  his  youth.  Quick  to  grasp  a  thought, 
ready  to  understand  with  comprehensive 
view,  and  perseverance  to  follow  to  a  con- 
clusion, he  mastered  what  he  undertook. 

He  was  trained  to  habits  of  neatness, 
promptness  —  method.  "  What  is  worth 
doing  at  all  is  worth  doing  well,"  had 
been  axiomatic  in  his  mother's  family 
since  the  days  of  his  great-grandmother. 
His  manner  from  his  boyhood  was  pleas- 
ing—  combining,  as  it  did,  a  marked 
degree  of  self-respect,  self-control  and 
kindly  feeling  that  never  failed  to  mani- 


A   SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.  77 

fest  itself  in  cheerful  words  and  gracious 
smile. 

He  was  very  prompt,  never  wasting  his 
own  time  nor  that  of  another.  He  was 
early  taught  the  priceless  value  of  time, 
and  the  need  of  doing  with  his  might 
what  his  hands  found  to  do.  During 
his  six  years'  stay  in  Memphis,  he  usually 
went  North  with  his  father  on  his  vaca- 
tion trips.  On  one  occasion  they  made 
the  tour  of  Niagara  Falls,  Canada,  and 
the  Eastern  cities.  He  enjoyed  the  recre- 
ation from  the  school-room  greatly  and 
returned  stronger  and  more  buoyant.. 
But  the  following  summer  he  decided  he 
would  rather  remain  with  mother.  The 
question  with  her  was  a  serious  one.  He 
had  formed  an  intimate  school  acquaint- 
vance  with  some  youths  of  wealthy  and  in- 
fluential families  whose  rather  unlimited 
range  of  thought  and  action  she  did  not 
deem  best  for  her  son  to  indulge  in. 

How  could  he  be  kept  from  these  in- 
fluences without  offense  to  the  parents  of 


78  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

these  companions  and  without  her  boy 
feeling  he  was  unjustly  restrained?  He 
must  be  kept  at  home  under  her  special 
care.  But  home  must  be  made  happy. 
He  had  good  books,  but  could  not  read 
all  the  time;  he  demanded  diversion. 

The  mother  took  the  son  into  her  con- 
fidence as  she  always  did  and  asked  him 
what  he  would  like  to  have  to  amuse  him 
and  employ  his  time.  "  A  dog,  a  mock- 
ing bird,  and  take  music  lessons."  u  Very 
well." 

The  dog  was  purchased,  seven  mock- 
ing birds,  six  of  them  dying  one  after 
another,  a  melodeon  bought,  teacher  en- 
gaged, and  the  summer  glided  through 
happily  and  usefully. 

He  was  accurate,  but  not  a  "  martinet." 
He  possessed  rare  perception  and  while 
never  neglecting  details  his  mind  was 
actively  going  forward  to  the  finality. 
He  saw  the  now  and  the  future  and 
because  of  these  endowments  he  was  not 
often  mistaken  in  his  judgment  of  men 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  79 

and  measures.  He  weighed  questions 
carefully  before  deciding,  but  once  con- 
vinced of  the  right  he  pursued  it,  not 
dismayed  by  difficulties  nor  discouraged 
by  delays.  When  he  had  conscientiously 
done  his  work  he  took  the  results  quietly 
and  cheerfully  although  his  purpose  might 
not  have  been  met.  When  a  case  was 
decided  adversely  in  the  Supreme  Court 
in  Washington  he  accepted  the  ultima- 
tum with  a  cheerful  fortitude. 

He  wras  self-sacrificing  to  an  almost 
unwarranted  point.  He  never  neglected 
necessary  details,  as  unpleasant  as  they 
might  be  to  him,  but  always  gave  to  every 
demand,  however  small,  the  consideration 
he  deemed  just. 

He  was  always  fastidious  in  his  attire 
believing  with  Shakespeare  that  the 
habit  should  be  as  costly  as  the  purse 
would  justify  —  rich,  not  gaudy,  for 
the  "  apparel  oft  proclaims  the  man." 
He  did  not,  however,  adopt  the  sentiment 
of  Pope  —  "  a  saint  in  crepe,  is  twice  a 


80  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

saint  in  lawn  "  —  but  was  more  than  half 
inclined  to  believe  that  "  through  tattered 
clothes  small  vices  do  appear." 

A  great  admirer  of  Beethoven,  he  could 
not  but  look  with  disgust  on  his  "  two-feet 
beard"  and  "his  hair  so  rank  and  thick 
he  could  scarcely  keep  his  hat  on."  The 
picture  of  Sir  Isaac  Newton  going  to 
dine  at  Trinity  Hall  "  with  shoes  down 
at  the  heels,  stockings  .untied,  surplice 
on,  and  hair  unkempt  "  was  thoroughly 
repulsive  to  his  refined  taste. 

He  was  fond  of  nature,  taking  expres- 
sive delight  in  the  joyous  spring  and  gor- 
geous autumn  of  the  West.  He  read  the 
Scientific  American  from  his  early  boy- 
hood, and  was  always  on  the  alert  for 
new  discoveries  in  science.  He  kept 
himself  well  informed  with  regard  to 
everything  in  this  line  of  a  practical 
nature  both  in  Europe  and  our  own  land. 
He  loved  music  and  art,  was  a  connois- 
seur in  both. 

At   the  age   of   nineteen    he   escorted 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  81 

seven  ladies  to  the  "  Centennial,"  and 
no  visitor  more  fully  appreciated  and 
enjoyed  that  wonderful  exhibition  of 
painting,  statuary  and  mechanics  than 
he.  The  Norwegian  and  Swedish  marine 
scenes  with  their  deep  rich  coloring 
particularly  pleased  him.  He  attended 
"The  World's  Fair"  in  Chicago  in 
ninety-three,  the  exposition  in  ISTew  Or- 
leans, Omaha  and  Buffalo.  He  and  his 
sister  May  were  just  outside  the  "  Temple 
of  Music  "  when  President  McKinley  was 
shot.  This  sad  event  so  shocked  them 
they  made  immediate  preparation  to 
return  to  St.  Louis.  He  had  known 
"Major  McKinley,"  having  met  him 
several  times  in  Washington,  and  had  for 
him  a  profound  respect.  He  regarded 
him  a  good  man  and  in  many  particulars 
a  great  one. 

He  was  "given  to  hospitality."  No 
stranger  was  ever  seen  in  the  little  church 
that  was  not  greeted  by  him  with  a 
cordial  hand-shake,  followed  by  an  invi- 


82  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

tation  to  dine.  He  never  married,  but 
with  a  friend  of  his  had  a  commodious, 
richly-furnished  house,  with  all  modern  im- 
provements, on  Alameda  street,  Tucson, 
and  a  splendid  Chinese  cook.  He  knew 
everything  would  be  in  order,  and  there- 
fore never  hesitated  to  ask  friends  to 
luncheon  or  dinner.  "  Ben"  was  always 
there.  Ben  was  ever  "  up  to  time." 

A  gentleman  of  Chicago  seeing  in  the 
Standard  the  announcement  of  the  forth- 
coming biography,  wrote  the  following 
letter  to  his  parents  :  — 

"  Chicago,  Jany.  14,  1904. 
"DR.  S.  H.  FORD: 

"  DEAR  SIR  AND  BRO.  —  Noting  in  the 
'  Standard  '  that  you  are  to  publish  a 
Biography  of  your  son  I  am  led  to  write 
you  of  an  instance  of  your  son's  hospi- 
tality. In  April,  1901,  while  making  a 
trip  to  the  coast  I  stopped  over  two  or 
three  days  at  Tucson  and  being  a  Bap- 
tist hunted  up  a  church  of  that  denom- 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  83 

ination,  where  I  met  Mr.  Rochester  Ford, 
and  by  him  was  invited  to  dine,  an  invi- 
tation I  very  gladly  accepted. 

"  We  spent  a  very  pleasant  hour  and 
afterwards  walked  about  the  town.  I 
afterward  met  your  son  at  his  office.  I 
greatly  appreciated  being  invited  to  your 
son's  home.  '  I  was  a  stranger  and  he 
took  me  in.'  Mr.  Ford  was  acquainted 
with  Mr.  P.  T.  Burtis,  of  Phoenix,  who 
has  since  died.  Mr.  Burtis,  whom  I 
knew  in  Chicago,  and  visited  in  Phoenix, 
spoke  in  high  terms  of  your  son.  It  is  a 
pleasure  for  me  to  write  you  of  your  son 
whose  memory  I  cherish.  I  shall  be 
pleased  to  purchase  the  Biography  when 
placed  on  sale. 

"  Respectfully  yours, 

"S.  J.  SHERER." 

He  was  early  in  life  a  devout  student 
of  God's  Word  —  a  youth  and  man  of 
prayer.  With  him  Christ  commanded 
the  constant  allegiance  of  both  heart  and 


84  ROCHESTER    FORD. 

mind.  His  service  was  his  delight.  He 
memorized  much  of  the  New  Testament 
and  many  of  the  Psalms.  He  was  par- 
ticularly interested  in  Paul's  epistles. 
He  knew  scores  of  hymns,  and  could  re- 
peat them  without  the  least  inaccuracy. 

Rochester  Ford  was  both  a  speaker 
and  a  writer,  and  was  frequently  called 
upon  by  his  fellow-citizens  to  publicly 
give  expression  of  his  views  on  general 
subjects. 

A  character  which  blended  such  esti- 
mable and  varied  characteristics  so  gra- 
ciously, must  have  exerted  over  those 
with  whom  he  mingled  a  potent  and 
lasting  influence.  Rochester  Ford  was 
noted  not  only  for  his  unyielding  in- 
tegrity, his  comprehensive  grasp  of 
principles,  his  knowledge  of  men,  his 
understanding  of  means  and  measures  for 
the  accomplishment  of  just  and  benign 
purposes,  his  business  ability,  his  refined 
scholarship,  but  for  his  courteous  manner, 
his  genial  wit  and  wisdom,  his  tender 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  85 

sympathy  with  the  needy  and  suffering, 
who  never  appealed  to  him  in  vain.  He 
sought  to  recognize  the  good  in  all  and, 
never  condoning  wrong-doing,  he  was 
forgiving  and  kind  to  the  wrong-doer. 
He  united  in  an  exalted  degree  the  high- 
est characteristics  of  a  noble  manhood 
with  the  sublime  graces  of  Christian  hu- 
mility and  unwavering  devotion  to  the 
cause  of  Christ  whose  sacrifice  had  opened 
up  for  him  the  way  to  eternal  life. 

"  He  taught  us  virtues  first  and  last, 
He  taught  us  manhood  more  and  more, 

The  simple  courage  that  stands  fast, 
The  patience  of  the  poor, 

Love  for  all  creatures,  great  and  small, 

And  trust  iu  Jesus  over  all." 


CHAPTER  XV. 

ROCHESTER  FORD  AS  A  SPEAKER  —  EX- 
TRACTS FROM  AN  ADDRESS  BEFORE 
TERRITORIAL  TEACHERS'  ASSOCIATION. 

It  is  a  fact  well  known  in  history  of 
science  and  philosophy  that  men  gifted 


86  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

by  nature  with  a  singular  intelligence 
have  broached  the  grossest  errors,  and 
even  sought  to  undermine  the  grand 
primitive  truths  on  which  human  virtue, 
dignity  and  hope  depend ;  and,  on  the 
other  hand,  there  are  instances  of  men  of 
naturally  moderate  powers  who,  by  a  dis- 
interested love  of  truth  and  their  fellow- 
creatures,  have  gradually  risen  to  no  small 
force  and  enlargement  of  thought. 

We  are  in  the  midst  of  influences  which 
menace  the  intellect  and  heart,  and  to  be 
free  is  to  withstand  and  conquer  these. 

I  call  that  mind  free  which  jealously 
guards  its  intellectual  rights  and  powers, 
which  calls  no  man  master,  which  does 
not  content  itself  with  a  passive  or  hered- 
itary faith,  which  opens  itself  to  light 
whencesoever  it  may  come,  which  re- 
ceives new  truth  as  an  angel  from  heaven, 
which,  while  consulting  others,  inquires 
still  more  of  the  oracle  within  itself,  and 
uses  instruction  from  abroad  not  to 
supersede  but  to  quicken  and  exalt  its 
own  energies. 


A   SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.  87 

I  call  that  mind  free  which  protects 
itself  against  the  usurpations  of  society, 
which  does  not  cower  to  human  opinion, 
which  feels  itself  accountable  to  a  higher 
tribunal  than  man's,  which  respects  a 
higher  law  than  fashion,  which  respects 
itself  too  much  to  be  the  slave  of  the 
many  or  the  few. 

I  call  that  mind  free  which  is  jealous 
of  its  own  freedom,  which  guards  itself 
from  being  merged  in  others,  which 
guards  its  empire  over  itself  as  nobler 
than  the  empire  of  the  world. 

In  the  history  of  human  civilizations 
there  are,  as  has  been  pointed  out  by  the 
students  and  thinkers,  whose  words  I 
freely  quote,  two  periods  which  so  far 
surpass  others  that  the  rest  may  be  neg- 
lected. "  The  earlier  is  that  which  men 
for  centuries  have  agreed  to  call  the 
classic  age  —  the  age  in  which  the  indi- 
vidual man  seemed  to  attain  his  highest 
development  as  a  model  and  canon  for  all 
after  time.  The  latter  period  dawned 


88  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

upon  the  dark  ages  when  from  feudalism 
as  a  stern  father  and  the  Christian 
church  as  a  cherishing  mother,  sprang 
the  modern  State,  which  has  made  possi- 
ble for  us  all  the  material  prosperity  of 
the  present  day.  The  differences  between 
these  two  periods  of  civilization  and  the 
distinguishing  features  of  each  are  well 
worthy  of  note  and  remembrance.  On 
the  one  hand,  individual  men  reached 
almost  their  highest  development  in 
Greece  and  Rome ;  on  the  other  hand, 
the  nice  adjustment  of  the  reciprocal 
rights  and  duties  of  men  has  been  the 
work  of  modern  times.  On  the  one 
hand,  we  have  the  classic  standard  of  the 
individual  which  has  never  been  attained 
in  modern  times.  "  Plato,"  as  those 
write  whose  opinion  is  of  value,  "  rises 
grandly  to  overshadow  modern  thinkers. 
The  thunders  of  Demosthenes,  even  now 
reverberating  in  the  echoes  of  two  thou- 
sand years,  drown  the  voice  of  every 
modern  orator.  We  look  in  vain  now 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  89 

for  a  figure  as  splendid  as  that  of  Peri- 
cles and  Alcibiades.  Or,  to  crown  all 
with  a  single  instance,  study  Julius 
Caesar  in  all  the  details  of  his  brief  life  as 
calmly  and  as  critically  as  you  can  —  the 
politician,  the  man  of  pleasure,  the 
augur,  the  consul,  the  general,  the  con- 
queror of  Gaul,  the  moulder  of  the  em- 
pire, the  reformer  of  the  world's  calen- 
dar and  of  the  Roman  law,  the  orator, 
the  historian  —  measure  him  as  closely 
as  you  can  in  all  these  characters,  and 
then,  if  you  can,  match  him.  The  first 
emperor  of  Rome  and  of  the  world,  it 
was  his  brilliant  personality  that  con- 
verted the  common  title  of  a  military 
commander  into  the  proper  designation 
of  the  highest  civil  dominion  over  man 
and  kings,  and  to-day  each  European 
monarch  that  claims  to  be  a  king  of 
kings,  preeminent  even  among  the  rulers 
of  the  earth,  is  proud  to  name  himself 
a  Kaiser. 

This  individual  development  was,  how- 


90  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

ever,  attained  at  the  expense  of  the  com- 
munity. Vested  rights,  or  the  personal 
freedom  of  its  subjects,  were  hardly 
known  in  Sparta  or  Athens,  and,  as  has 
been  pointed  out,  "  just  as  slavery  bears 
hard  on  the  masses,  while  allowing  the 
favorites  to  become  the  companions, 
equals,  even  masters  of  their  owners,  so 
in  this  crude  and  arbitrary  form  of  polity 
the  leading  citizen,  the  rich  man,  the 
popular  orator  or  the  favorite  sophist, 
had  chances  of  individual  development 
that  could  never  be  shared  by  a  whole 
community  of  freemen." 

After  two  whole  generations  it  seems 
as  if  some  increase  of  genuine  reasona- 
bleness of  thought  and  action  in  all 
classes  of  the  population  ought  to  be 
discernible.  Many  persons,  however,  fail 
to  see  in  the  actual  conduct  of  the  vari- 
ous classes  of  society  the  evidence  of 
increasing  rationality.  These  skeptical 
observers  complain  that  people  in 
general,  taken  in  masses  with  proper 


A    SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  91 

exclusion  of  exceptional  individuals, 
are  hardly  more  reasonable  in  the  conduct 
of  life  than  they  were  before  free  schools, 
popular  colleges  and  the  cheap  printing 
press  existed.  They  point  out  that  when 
the  vulgar  want  to  read  they  read  trivial 
or  degrading  literature,  such  as  the  com- 
mon newspapers  and  periodicals,  which 
are  mainly  devoted  to  accidents,  crimes, 
criminal  trials,  scandals,  gossip,  sports, 
prize-fights,  and  low  politics.  Is  it  not 
the  common  school  and  the  art  of  cheap 
illustration,  they  say,  that  have  made 
bad  books,  photographs,  and  pictures, 
low  morals  and  all  the  literature  which 
excites  to  vice  and  crime  profitable,  and 
therefore  abundant  and  dangerous  to 
society?  They  complain  that  in  spite  of 
every  effort  to  enlighten  the  whole  body 
of  the  people,  all  sorts  of  quacks  and 
impostors  thrive,  and  that  one  popular 
delusion  or  sophism  succeeds  another,  the 
best  educated  classes  contributing  their 
full  proportion  of  the  deluded.  Thus, 


92  ROCHESTER  FORD. 

the  astrologer  in  the  middle  ages  was  a 
rare  personage,  and  usually  a  dependent 
of  princes ;  but  now  he  advertises  in  the 
popular  newspapers  and  flourishes  as 
never  before.  Men  and  women  of  all 
classes,  no  matter  what  their  education, 
seek  advice  on  grave  matters  from  clair- 
voyants, seers,  Christian  scientists,  mind- 
cure  practitioners,  fortune  tellers,  bone 
setters  and  Indian  doctors.  The  ship  of 
state  barely  escapes  from  one  cyclone  of 
popular  folly,  like  the  fiat  money  delusion 
or  the  granger  legislation  of  the  seven- 
ties, when  another  blast  of  ill-informed 
opinion  comes  down  upon  it  like  the 
actual  legislation  which  compels  the  buy- 
ing and  storing  of  silver,  or  the  projected 
legislation  which  would  compel  govern- 
ment to  buy  cotton,  wheat,  or  corn,  and 
issue  paper  money  against  the  stock. 
&•&*•&*•#•&.& 

Observing  accurately ; 
Recording  correctly  ; 
Comparing,  grouping    and     inferring 
justly,  and 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  93 

Expressing  cogently  the  results  of 
these  mental  operations. 

The  acquisition  of  the  art  of  reading 
is  mostly  a  matter  of  memory. 

As  to  English  spelling,  it  is  altogether 
a  matter  of  memory. 

Geography,  as  commonly  taught, 
means  committing  to  memory  a  mass  of 
curiously  uninteresting  and  unimportant 
facts. 

Arithmetic  does  not  train  a  single  one 
of  the  faculties  which  should  be  the 
fundamental  object  of  education,  and  is 
the  least  remunerative  subject  in  element- 
ary education  as  now  conducted. 

No  amount  of  memoritur  study  of 
languages,  or  of  the  natural  science,  and 
no  attainments  in  arithmetic,  will  protect 
a  man  or  woman  —  except  imperfectly, 
through  a  certain  indirect  cultivation  of 
general  intelligence  —  from  succumbing 
to  the  first  plausible  delusion  or  sophism 
he  or  she  may  encounter.  N"o  amount 
of  such  studies  will  protect  one  from 


94  ROCHESTER     FORD. 

believing  in  astrology,  or  theosophy, 
or  free  silver,  or  strikes,  or  boycotts,  or 
in  the  persecution  of  Jews  or  Mormons, 
or  in  the  violent  exclusion  of  non-union 
men  from  employment  or  engaging  in 
land  speculation.  Books  enable  us  to 
learn  from  others  who  are  wiser  and 
better  than  we  are  — persons  whom  we 
cannot  hope  to  meet,  but  whose  thoughts 
we  are  pleased  to  know. 

A  book  is  more  than  a  monument  of 
a  preceding  age.  It  is  a  voice  coming 
to  us  over  the  interval  of  centuries. 
Language,  when  written,  as  truly  con- 
veys to  us  another's  mind  as  when 
spoken.  It  is  a  species  of  personal  in- 
tercourse. By  it  the  wise  of  former 
times  give  us  their  minds  as  really  as  if 
by  some  miracle  they  were  to  rise  from 
the  dead  and  communicate  with  us  by 
speech.  It  is  chiefly  through  books  that 
we  enjoy  intercourse  with  superior  minds, 
and  these  invaluable  means  of  communi- 
cation are  within  the  reach  of  all.  In 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  95 

the  best  books  great  men  talk  to  us,  give 
us  their  most  precious  thoughts,  and 
pour  their  souls  into  ours.  God  be 
thanked  for  books.  They  are  the  voices 
of  the  distant  and  the  dead,  and  make 
us  heirs  of  the  spiritual  life  of  past  ages. 
Books  are  the  true  levelers.  They  give 
to  all  who  will  faithfully  use  them  the 
society,  the  spirit  and  presence  of  the 
best  and  greatest  of  our  race.  ~No  mat- 
ter how  poor  I  am.  No  matter  though 
the  prosperous  of  my  own  time  will  not 
enter  my  obscure  dwelling.  If  the  sa- 
cred writers  will  come  and  take  up  their 
abode  under  my  roof ;  if  Milton  .will  cross 
my  threshold  to  sing  to  me  of  Paradise, 
and  Shakspere  to  open  to  me  the  world  of 
imagination  and  the  workings  of  the 
human  heart,  and  Franklin  to  enrich  me 
with  his  practical  wisdom,  I  shall  not 
pine  for  want  of  intellectual  companion- 
ship, and  I  may  become  a  cultivated  man, 
though  excluded  from  what  is  called  the 
best  society  in  the  place  where  I  may  be." 


96  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

"  Progressive  movements  are  not  led  by 
majorities.  The  conception,  the  initia- 
tive, the  forward  lead,  must  come  from 
an  individual,  or  from  a  small  minority. 
This  is  as  true  in  educational  matters  as 
in  any  other  sphere  of  life. 

When  one  finds  himself  fairly  settled 
in  company  with  a  majority,  it  is  time  to 
begin  to  look  for  a  higher  ideal." 

He  never  permitted  his  addresses  to  be 
taken  down  in  shorthand.  The  above 
was  found  among  his  papers  in  type. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

When  the  Chamber  of  Commerce 
wished  the  advantages  of  Tucson  written 
up  for  public  distribution  they  applied  to 
Mr.  Ford  to  do  this,  to  which  he  acceded 
most  cheerfully.  We  make  some  extracts 
from  this  work. 

"  Tucson  lays  claim  to  being  one  of  the 
oldest  settlements  in  the  United  States, 
ranking  as  to  age  next  after  San  Angus- 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  97 

tine,  Florida,  and  SantaFe,  New  Mexico. 
Its  history  can  be  traced  back  to  1649, 
when  a  military  station  was  established 
by  the  Spaniards  to  protect  the  Mission 
of  San  Xavier.  The  merits  of  this  claim 
of  long  descent  have  been  called  in  ques- 
tion, but  the  fact  remains  that  it  was 
settled  at  a  very  early  day,  and  its  natural 
advantages  are  such  that  it  was  always 
an  important  trading  point. 

Before  the  advent  of  the  railroad, 
Tucson  was  almost  as  unknown  and  as 
remote  from  civilization  as  the  interior  of 
Africa.  It  was  indeed  a  frontier  town 
in  all  that  those  words  import. 

But  Tucson  now  is  as  different  from 
Tucson  in  its  frontier  stage  as  the  day  is 
from  night,  or  the  gorgeous  and  be- 
spangled butterfly  from  the  chrysalis  or 
grub.  That  period  of  her  history  which 
might  be  termed  the  dark  ages  has  passed. 
Warfare  with  the  Apaches,  and  cruelties 
surpassing  any  tales  of  fiction,  are  among 
the  experiences  of  the  pioneers  who  are 

7 


98  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

still  living,  but  to  the  new-comers  and 
the  younger  generation  all  this  seems  as 
far  back  in  the  past  as  the  myths  that  are 
preserved  only  in  folk-lore.  The  "Wild 
West"  is  to  be  seen  now  only  on  the  stage 
and  in  comic  papers.  The  frontier  has 
disappeared  with  the  buffalo,  and  Tucson 
is  one  of  the  most  modern,  progressive, 
prosperous  and  law- abiding  cities  to  be 
found  in  the  length  and  breadth  of  the 
land  —  one  which  offers  as  many  induce- 
ments as  could  be  expected,  both  to  those 
who  wish  to  engage  in  active  business  for 
the  profit  there  is  in  it,  and  to  those  who 
may  wish  to  rest  and  regain  strength 
in  a  climate  which  is,  without  any  excep- 
tion, unequaled.  When  it  is  known  that 
Tucson  not  only  possesses  its  matchless 
climate,  but  is  also  one  of  the  best  busi- 
ness points  in  the  southwest,  it  is  no 
wonder  that  it  has  gone  ahead  by  leaps 
and  bounds. 

Just  as  sometimes  in  the  large  cities  a 
tract   of  ground,  barren,  repelling,  cov- 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  99 

ered  with  hovels  and  surrounded  by 
squalor,  is  taken  for  public  use,  and  in 
an  incredibly  short  time  the  houses  are 
removed,  the  streets  broadened,  graded 
and  paved,  and,  as  though  by  a  magi- 
cian's wand,  the  land  itself  turned  into 
a  park  or  boulevard  of  entrancing 
beauty  —  "a  wilderness  of  harmony," — 
delighting  the  eye  and  quickening  the 
soul,  so  Tucson  in  the  last  few  years  has 
been  physically  recreated  and  beautified. 
Adobe  houses  have  been  pulled  down  to 
give  place  to  substantial  brick  buildings, 
crooked  streets  have  been  made  straight, 
and  narrow  ones  —  no  matter  what  the 
expense — widened.  Elegant  residences 
have  been  built ;  trees  have  been  planted 
and  grown,  and  private  lawns  and  public 
parks  refresh  the  eye. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  the  improve- 
ments seem  due  to  the  natural  and  perma- 
nent advantages  which  Tucson  possesses 
as  a  business  point.  The  city  has  not  been 
boomed  by  outsiders,  nor  is  its  progress 


100  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

due  wholly  to  what  is  termed  new  blood. 
Local  capital  has  been  sufficient  for  in- 
creased demands,  and  the  men  who  have 
lived  in  Tucson  from  the  early  days  are 
fully  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  progress 
and  have  been  the  most  important  fac- 
tors in  the  march  of  improvement.  It 
is  the  citizens  that  have  lived  here  for 
years  who  have  built  the  most  beautiful 
and  costly  residences,  who  conduct  the 
largest  business  enterprises  and  who  have 
been  most  prominent  in  the  radical 
changes  that  have  come  over  the  city. 

Where  business  rests  mainly  on  mining 
operations,  for  instance,  or  on  the  success 
of  one  product,  or  the  water  supply  for 
irrigation  purposes,  the  shutting  down  of 
the  mines  or  the  failure  of  the  crop,  or 
the  shortage  of  water  in  the  canals  will 
result  immediately  in  curtailed  business 
and  hard  times.  But  Tucson  has  so 
many  resources  to  draw  from  that  its 
volume  of  trade  cannot  in  any  reasonable 
probability  be  seriously  affected  for  any 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  101 

great  length  of  time.  Among  other 
causes  of  advancement  is  the  fact  that  it 
is  the  headquarters  of  the  important  di- 
vision of  the  Southern  Pacific  Company 
from  El  Paso  to  Yuma.  The  company 
now  employs  600  men  at  Tucson  and 
these  figures  will  be  increased  as  soon  as 
the  extensive  enlargements  and  improve- 
ments already  decided  on  are  completed. 
The  geographical  position  of  the  city  is 
such  as  to  make  it  the  headquarters  for 
the  mining  and  cattle  industry  of  Southern 
Arizona.  It  is  the  great  distributing 
point  not  only  for  a  large  part  of  the  Ter- 
ritory, but  for  much  of  northern  Sonora 
as  well,  and  the  tides  of  business  will  keep 
it  what  it  has  always  been,  the  metropolis 
of  Arizona. 

The  population,  according  to  the  best 
estimates,  one  of  which  is  based  on  the 
fact  that  there  are  2,400  school  children 
in  the  district,  is  between  11,000  and  12,- 
000.  Of  this  number  perhaps  one-half  are 
Mexicans.  It  should  be  borne  in  mind, 


102  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

however,  that  Tucson  is  strictly  an  Ameri- 
can city.  By  this  is  meant  that  our  Mexi- 
can friends  do  not  hold  themselves  aloof, 
but  are  as  wide  awake  in  the  march  of 
progress  as  any  citizens  we  have.  No 
race  issues  are  raised,  and  the  Americans 
and  Mexicans  freely  intermingle  without 
friction. 

The  first  wealth  is  health,  and  a  pure 
water  supply  is  of  paramount  importance. 
This  demand  is  met  in  the  waterworks 
system  owned  and  operated  by  the  mu- 
nicipality. It  is  new  and  complete,  com- 
prising all  necessary  features  of  pumps, 
water-tower  or  stand-pipe,  mains,  etc. 

Hardly  second  in  practical  importance 
to  the  well-being  of  a  city  is  its  drainage 
and  sewerage.  In  this,  also,  Tucson 
meets  all  requirements.  An  improved 
sewer  system,  planned  by  Eastern  experts 
who  came  to  Tucson  and  thoroughly  ex- 
amined local  conditions,  has  been  in- 
stalled. It,  like  the  waterworks,  is  owned 
and  operated  by  the  municipality,  so  that 


A    SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  103 

the  people  have  nothing  to  fear  either 
from  the  neglect  or  extortion  of  a  private 
corporation. 

From  a  mention  of  the  most  prominent 
business  enterprises  of  Tucson  it  will  be 
at  once  apparent  that  it  is  characterized 
by  activity  and  prosperity. 

There  are  two  national  banks  having 
deposits  aggregating  a  million  and  a  quar- 
ter of  dollars ;  three  building  and  loan 
associations  (one  of  them  being  on  record 
as  the  most  successful  in  the  United 
States)  which  loaned  $175,000  in  1901 ; 
two  daily  newspapers  receiving  the  Asso- 
ciated Press  dispatches  ;  two  weeklies  ;  a 
complete  local  and  long  distance  tele- 
phone service  ;  two  modern  ice  works ; 
the  same  number  of  excellent  and  com- 
plete flouring  mills  ;  a  number  of  hotels, 
one  the  new  Williard,  opened  September 
1,  1902,  and  another  one,  the  Santa  Kita, 
a  modern  and  elegant  building  to  cost 
$100,000,  now  in  course  of  erection  and 
soon  to  be  opened.  A  well-equipped 


104  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

Carnegie  library,  six  church  houses,  an 
orphans'  home,  an  Indian  industrial  train- 
ing school  and  farm  successfully  managed 
by  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Missions. 

EDUCATIONAL    INTERESTS. 

The  chief  feature  of  the  educational 
system  of  the  Territory  is  the  University 
of  Arizona,  situated  at  Tucson.  It  is 
located  on  a  campus  of  forty  acres,  com- 
manding at  once  a  full  view  of  the  grand 
mountain  ranges  and  also  of  the  city. 
Its  equipment  comprises  extensive  build- 
ings and  all  necessary  apparatus,  and  its 
courses  of  study  are  varied  and  such  as 
to  meet  the  needs  of  any  student.  The 
mining  course  is  planned  with  special  ref- 
erence to  the  need  of  the  mining  engineer 
in  Arizona  or  Mexico. 

The  faculty  is  a  strong  one,  consisting 
of  twenty  members,  including  graduates 
of  all  the  leading  universities.  The 
equipment  of  the  shops  and  laboratories 
is  modern  and  complete,  and  the  creden- 


A   SUCCESSFUL    LAWYER.  105 

tials  of  the  university  are  accepted  in 
place  of  examinations  at  all  the  leading 
universities  and  colleges.  It  is  in  all 
respects  the  equal  of  similar  institutions 
in  other  territories  or  States. 

The  Territory  has  always  followed  a 
large  and  liberal  educational  policy  both 
as  to  public  schools  and  higher  institutions 
of  learning,  and  Tucson  may  confidently 
present  her  schools  as  being  up  to  the 
highest  attainable  standard.  Even  in  the 
comparatively  early  day,  many  years  ago, 
the  public  school  building  was  the  largest 
and  most  expensive  in  the  place,  and  the 
new  schoolhouses  erected  in  the  past 
two  years  are,  like  all  the  late  improve- 
ments of  the  city,  designed  and  finished 
in  accord  with  modern  scientific  require- 
ments. The  public  schools  are  judi- 
ciously located  in  different  parts  of  the 
city  and  are,  in  fact,  of  peculiar  excel- 
lence and  models  of  what  such  buildings 
should  be. 

An    academy   and  a   parochial  school 


106  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

are  maintained  by  the  Roman  Catholics, 
who  also  conduct  an  Orphans'  Home. 

Tucson  affords  the  means  of  gratify- 
ing social,  literary,  religious  and  other 
needs.  The  various  secret  orders  and 
benevolent  societies  have  thirty-five 
lodges.  A  large,  new  opera  house  af- 
fords a  suitable  place  for  theatrical  and 
other  entertainment.  The  Carnegie 
library  is  a  beautiful,  well-constructed 
building  fully  supplied  with  books,  and 
conducted  by  the  city  according  to  the 
methods  which  have  received  the  ap- 
proval of  library  experts.  The  Elks 
have  a  large  brick  clubhouse  of  their 
own,  the  finest  of  its  kind  in  the  Terri- 
tory, furnished  with  the  most  artistic 
equipment  possible  to  be  secured. 

JL,  \k  ^'.  4£»  .V.  ££*  Afr  M* 

CLIMATE. 

Reference  has  been  made  to  the  match- 
less climate  of  Tucson.  The  greater 
part  of  the  southwest,  including  western 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  107 

Texas,  New  Mexico,  northern  Sonora 
and  Arizona,  is  a  vast  natural  sanitarium, 
but  among  the  many  excellent  resorts  in 
this  district,  each  having  some  features 
of  merit,  none  surpasses  Tucson.  The 
word-artists  have  exhausted  their  skill 
in  delineations  of  western  life,  and  so 
many  pen  pictures  have  been  drawn  of 
the  mountains,  the  clouds,  the  skies  and 
the  sunshine  that  the  reading  public  is 
familiar  with  such  descriptions.  But, 
after  all  is  said  and  written,  the  fact  is 
that  descriptions  fall  short.  The  reality 
surpasses  the  most  ambitious  portrayal. 
The  charm  of  the  western  life  is  too 
elusive  to  be  captured  by  words,  and 
the  blue  of  the  sky,  the  purple  haze  of 
the  mountains,  the  softness  and  kindness 
and  peacefulness  of  the  air,  and  the 
glories  of  dawn  and  sunset,  remain  inde- 
scribable. 

A  very  experienced  traveler  and  im- 
partial observer,  Hon.  Whitelaw  Eeid, 
wrote  of  Arizona  as  follows :  — 


108  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

"During  a  five  months'  residence  in 
southern  Arizona  in  winter  there  was  but 
one  day  when  the  weather  made  it  actu- 
ally unpleasant  for  me  to  take  exercise 
in  the  open  air  at  some  time  or  other 
during  the  day.  Of  course,  there  were  a 
good  many  days  which  a  weather  obser- 
ver would  describe  as  '  cloudy  '  and  some 
that  were  '  showery ;'  but  during  the 
five  months  (from  November,  1895,  to 
May,  1896)  there  were  only  four  days 
when  we  did  not  have  brilliant  sun- 
shine at  some  time  during  the  day." 
The  forces  of  the  system  are  not  used 
up  in  fighting  against  cold  and  chill, 
but  are  reserved  for  building  up  the  im- 
paired tissues,  and  the  dry  and  balmy 
air  helps  not  only  by  enabling  invalids 
to  keep  out  of  doors,  but  also,  as  it  is 
thought,  exerts  a  positive  curative  effect. 

For  these  reasons  the  fame  of  Tucson's 
climate  for  lung  sufferers  has  been  stead- 
ily growing.  Threatened  or  incipient 
cases  of  tuberculosis  may  confidently 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  109 

hope  for  improvement,  but  persons  with 
cases  far  advanced  will  not  be  benefited 
here  or  elsewhere  and  it  cannot  be  too 
strongly  urged  that  such  persons  should 
not  come.  In  common  with  all  resorts 
for  pulmonary  invalids,  Tucson  is  awake 
to  the  necessity  of  making  reasonable 
regulations  to  prevent  the  danger  of  in- 
fection from  consumptives.  The  belief 
is  prevalent  that  the  disease  may  be  com- 
municated from  one  to  another  and  for 
the  protection  both  of  the  invalids  them- 
selves and  of  our  own  citizens,  strict 
compliance  with  sanitary  regulations  is 
imperative. 

The  Sisters  of  Mercy  conduct  a  new 
hospital  exclusively  for  persons  suffering 
from  lung  troubles,  and  another  large 
and  completely  appointed  sanatarium  is 
expected  to  be  open  by  winter. 

"  I  will  not  fear  to  launch  my  bark 
Before  the  darkly  rolling  flood 

'Tis  but  to  pierce  the  mist  —  and  then 
How  beautiful  to  be  with  God." 


110  ROCHESTER   FORD. 


CHAPTEE  XVII. 

SERIOUS   MONITIONS* 

For  more  than  a  year  Rochester  Ford 
was  fully  aware  that  he  was  losing 
ground.  He  had  purchased  a  pneumox- 
eter  when  in  New  York,  some  months 
previous  to  January,  1902,  and  when  he 
found  his  breathing  capacity  could  not 
be  extended  under  its  use,  he  felt  con- 
vinced the  unfavorable  condition  of  his 
lung  could  not  be  improved.  His  breath- 
ing was  gradually  growing  more  labored 
and  he  found  his  strength  slowly  failing. 
These  unpromising  features  he  fully 
realized  but  he  never  complained.  ISTot 
a  word  of  murmur  or  despondency,  but 
whatever  his  suffering  he  was  always 
cheerful,  and  ready  with  a  pleasant  word 
and  genial  smile.  Averse  to  calling 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  Ill 

attention  to  himself,  his  most  trusted 
friends  never  knew  the  constant  weari- 
ness and  oppression  he  bore  from  hour  to 
hour. 

After  a  very  trying  trip  and  unpleasant 
stay  in  Nogales  of  several  days,  whither 
he  had  gone  on  important  business,  he 
suffered  on  his  return  to  Tucson  in  Jan- 
uary, 1902,  with  a  slight  bleeding  from 
the  right  lung  which  confined  him  to  his 
room  for  a  few  days.  As  was  his  cus- 
tom during  all  the  years  of  his  exile  he 
wrote  to  his  mother  every  day.  This 
was  his  invariable  rule  and  whether  in 
bed,  or  at  his  office,  on  the  train  or  in 
hotel,  there  was  never  an  omission. 
While  in  bed  on  this  occasion  he  wrote : 
"Results  are  in  the  hands  of  God  and  I 
am  resigned  to  His  will.  He  has  given 
me  ten  years  and  may  extend  my  life 
longer.  I  am  living  as  it  were  on  bor- 
rowed time.  This  is  the  right  way  to 
view  life  whether  we  are  sick  or  in  health. 
I  try  to  keep  my  house  in  order." 


112  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

A  few  days  later  he  says :  "  All  things 
work  together  for  good  to  them  who  love 
God,  and  sickness  comes  from  him  as 
well  as  health.  He  has  a  purpose  in 
everything  that  befalls  his  children  and 
we  are  to  rejoice  in  the  Lord  always. 
My  trust  isin  Him  ;  '  why  should  I  fear.'  " 

On  the  first  day  of  this  New  Year  he 
sent  a  beautiful  greeting,  and  adds: 
"Every  day,  however,  is  the  beginning 
of  another  year.  The  older  I  get  the 
less  I  care  for  particular  days.  Our  lives 
have  been  spared  through  another  twelve 
months,  and  we  should  devoutly  praise 
the  Giver  of  all  good.  It  seems  almost 
a  miracle  that  despite  great  weakness  I 
have  managed  to  get  around  for  ten 
years.  I  do  not  feel  that  I  am  growing 
stronger  but  the  Lord  has  kept  me  and 
will  keep  me,  and  I  can  trust  everything 
to  Him."  This  was  written  about  nine- 
teen months  before  his  departure  to 
heaven.  From  this  attack  in  January  he 
sufficiently  recovered  to  make  a  trip  to 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  113 

Washington,    leaving  Tucson  February 
22d. 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

HIS   LAST   TRIP   TO   WASHINGTON. 

It  was  a  matter  of  necessity  that  he 
should  be  present  in  Washington  in  Feb- 
ruary and  March,  1902,  to  attend  the 
Supreme  Court,  in  the  noted  Pima  County 
Bond  Case.  He  did  not  care  to  expose 
himself  to  the  change  of  climate  and  the 
usual  unpleasant  winter  weather  of  the 
Capital.  But  duty  demanded  it  and  un- 
der difficulty  and  some  degree  of  appre- 
hension he  prepared  for  the  undertaking. 
He  selected  the  Southern  route  as  involv- 
ing the  least  exposure  and  discomfort. 

After  leaving  El  Paso,  he  wrote,  Feb- 
ruary 23d :  — 

"  My  Dear  Mother: 

"  Am  speeding  on  my  way,  safe  so  far, 
was  quite  feeble  last  night  and  this  morn- 
ing, but  I  am  over  this  now  (11  a.  m.). 

8 


114  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

Lately  I  have  something  like  a  premoni- 
tion of  fainting  but  have  not  done  so, 
and  I  hope  I  shall  not.  It  certainly  re- 
quires some  resolution  to  make  these  trips 
when  I  am  so  nearly  completely  helpless, 
but  at  all  times  I  am  trusting  in  the  Lord 
and  shall  go  on  as  long  as  it  is  His  will. 
I  do  not  know  what  a  day  nor  an  hour 
may  bring  forth.  All  my  plans  are  sub- 
ject to  change.  *  *  * 

"  There  is  no  time  when  I  am  awake 
that  I  am  not  thinking  of  you. 
44  Your  loving  son, 

"  ROCHESTER." 

During  his  two  weeks'  stay  in  Wash- 
ington the  weather  was  cold,  damp  and 
sunless.  It  rained  and  snowed  and 
sleeted.  The  wind  at  times  was  fiercely 
penetrating.  This  condition  acted  very 
unfavorably  and  seriously  increased  the 
difficulty  of  breathing.  But,  notwith- 
standing his  sufferings,  of  which  he 
never  complained,  he  made  a  daily  visit 


A   SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.  115 

to  the  Capitol  and  would  sit  with  great 
fortitude  in  the  Supreme  Court  room 
listening  to  the  pleadings  in  the  various 
cases  before  the  judges. 

A  friend  of  his  from  San  Francisco, 
Mr.  F.  J.  Heney,  was  lying  dangerously 
ill  at  one  of  the  hotels.  It  was  not  pru- 
dent, but  he  took  a  carriage  and  called 
to  see  if  he  could  do  anything  for  his 
friend's  comfort.  His  mother  having 
joined  him  in  Washington  in  order  to  be 
with  him  should  he  need  her,  accom- 
panied him  each  day  in  his  visits  to  the 
Capitol  and  was  present  when  Mr.  Car- 
lisle, followed  by  Rochester,  made  their 
speeches  in  the  noted  bond  case,  When 
the  time  came  for  him  to  leave  Washing- 
ton for  the  West,  the  weather  having 
somewhat  improved,  he  decided  to  accom- 
pany his  mother  to  St.  Louis.  Not  being 
able  to  visit  his  family  at  their  suburban 
home,  he  had  them  come  to  the  city  and 
take  dinner  with  him  at  the  hotel. 

He  had  had  many  cases  in  the  Supreme 


116 


ROCHESTER   FORD. 


Court  of  the  U.  S.  and  unfortunately 
for  his  health  he  had  been  compelled  to 
visit  the  East  on  business  most  of  the 
winters  of  his  stay  in  Tucson.  One  sea- 
son he  was  necessitated  to  make  two 
trips  during  mid-winter. 

CHAPTEE  XIX. 

EXTRACTS   FROM   HIS    LETTERS    OF    1902. 

"  April  1 .  As  to  the  cause  of  the  dis- 
tress on  my  trip  from  St.  Louis,  I  am 
entirely  ignorant.  I  did  have  a  time  of 
it  and  the  last  day  of  the  trip  I  was  at  a 
standstill.  I  shall  not  soon  forget  it.  lam 
taking  the  buggy  rides  as  I  wrote  you  — 
eating  and  sleeping  tolerably  well.  Do 
not  suffer  nearly  so  much  in  the  morn- 
ing from  shortness  of  breath  —  in  fact, 
get  on  quite  comfortably." 

"  April  10.  I  send  you  a  paper  contain- 
ing an  account  of  the  H  —  trial.  The 
evidence  against  him  is  most  weighty 
but  perhaps  by  ;  ways  that  are  dark  and 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  117 

tricks  that  are  vain  '  he  may  escape  the 
penalty.  Justice  is  sometimes  adminis- 
tered, but  when  a  criminal  of  any  promi- 
nence is  tried,  the  associates  gather  from 
near  and  far  hoping  to  influence  the 
jury,  or  aid  him  in  some  way.  The 
cohesive  power  of  public  plunder  binds 
them  into  a  homogeneous  mass." 

u  April  14.  Am  always  so  encouraged 
when  I  get  your  loving  and  sympathizing 
letters.  Am  indeed  doing  all  I  can  and 
it  would  seem  I  should  improve,  but 
some  days  I  am  so  feeble  as  to  be  almost 
incapable  of  moving.  I  slept  well  and 
ate  a  hearty  breakfast  and  the  day  is 
bright  and  warm,  but  I  am  very  weak. 
What  can  all  this  mean?  I  certainly 
would  not  write  about  myself  but  I  have 
promised  you  to  let  you  know  from  time 
to  time  just  how  I  am.  The  Lord  will 
bring  everything  to  pass  according  to  the 
counsel  of  His  will." 

"  May  15.  Why  I  was  taken  with  la 
grippe  and  compelled  to  live  here,  I  do 


118  ROCHESTER    FORD. 

not  know,  but  I  am  assured  it  is  all  right. 
I  had  hoped  I  would  improve  and  regain 
strength  but  am  now  convinced  that  I 
must  not  expect  to  be  much  stronger  than 
I  am.  The  great  thing  is  not  to  deceive 
one's  self  in  any  respect.  The  pneu- 
moxiter  shows  that  at  rny  best  estate  I 
have  less  than  one -half  of  average  breath- 
ing capacity,  and  when  I  am  tired  and  my 
lungs  do  not  work  properly,  I  have 
scarcely  a  third  or  a  fourth.  You  can  see 
that  it  is  hard  work  to  attend  to  business. 
Whatever  I  do  is  at  least  three  times  as 
hard  as  for  ordinary  persons.  But  I  have 
been  enabled  to  keep  up  and  to  accom- 
plish something.  I  hoped  that  the 
breathing  exercises  would  have  increased 
my  lung  capacity  but  after  faithful  effort 
there  is  no  perceptible  gain,  and  thus 
conclude  that  what  Dr.  Fenner  has  told 
me  is  the  case  —  that  the  lung  has  hard- 
ened and  there  is  no  possibility  of  rem- 
edying it.  This  is  not  pleasant  but  I 
accept  it  and  am  not  repining. 


A    SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  119 

"When  we  look  at  the  other  side  I  have 
great  reason  to  be  thankful  that  my  life 
has  been  spared  for  almost  eleven  years, 
and  that  I  have  been  given  strength  to 
do  what  lay  before  me  in  spite  of  weak- 
ness. I  shall  keep  on  just  as  long  as 
possible  but  the  time  must  come  when 
my  breath  will  stop.  I  stood  the  effort 
at  church  very  well  and  believed  my  talk 
did  good.  I  am  sure  it  was  the  truth  as 
revealed  in  the  Word.  Several  spoke 
with  me  about  it.  Speaking  always  bene- 
fits me  and  I  do  not  hesitate  to  use  my 
lungs  in  that  way  whenever  I  have  oc- 
casion. '' 

"  May  25.  Safely  through  another  week 
God  has  brought  me  on  my  way.  It  is 
His  hand  that  guides  me  and  upholds 
me.  I  have  long  since  come  to  know  that 
in  myself  I  have  literally  no  strength  and 
I  look  to  Him  from  day  to  day.  While  I 
am  busy  all  the  time  it  is  with  matters  of 
daily  routine  that  are  uninteresting  ex- 
cept to  clients.  I  have  the  Sunday- 


]20  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

school  library  numbered  and  classified 
and  shall  write  the  members  of  the  other 
churches  to  use  the  books." 

"May  28.  This  morning  I  attended  the 
meeting  of  the  Arizona  Medical  Asso- 
ciation, and  made  the  "  Address  of 
Welcome,"  and  then  came  to  the  office 
to  prepare  a  lecture  to  be  delivered  at  the 
University  to-morrow  afternoon  on  min- 
ing law.  To  do  this  takes  a  good  deal 
of  time,  and  I  hesitate  to  undertake  it, 
but  the  professor  represented  that  it  was 
an  opportunity  to  do  good  to  the  pupils, 
and  on  that  representation  I  yielded." 

"  May  30.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Medi- 
cal Association  one  physician  said  that 
"  exhaustion  is  the  mother  of  most 
diseases."  He  condensed  volumes  into 
that  one  sentence.  Am  feeling  tolerably 
well.  I  read  a  lecture  on  mining  law  for 
an  hour,  but  got  through  without  exces- 
sive fatigue." 

"June  5.  I  went  out  on  night  of  3d 
inst.,  and  acted  as  one  of  the  judges  of 


A   SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.  121 

the  oratorical  contest  at  the  opera  house. 
It  is  the  only  night  I  have  been  out  in  a 
long  while.  Generally  it  is  out  of  my 
power  to  get  around  at  night,  and  this 
makes  traveling  so  unpleasant." 

"June  8.  Am  once  more  at  my  office  on 
a  Lord's  Day  morning,  but  it  is  only  to 
write  to  you.  I  do  not  attend  to  busi- 
ness on  Sunday  or  at  night.  I  get  to 
church  and  Sunday-school  in  the  morning 
and  occasionally  to  the  Congregational 
Church  at  night,  as  this  is  just  across 
the  street  from  us.  I  find  the  walk  to 
our  church  too  much  for  me  at  night. 
Am  feeling  better  to-day  than  yesterday. 
My  breathing  apparatus  seemed  to  be 
on  a  strike,  and  I  got  around  only  with 
the  greatest  difficulty.  " 

"  June  20.  With  regard  to  burial  my 
views  are  as  yours.  When  our  remains 
are  committed  to  the  earth  we  shall  be 
with  the  Lord  and  this  body  of  our 
humiliation  will  be  raised  so  as  to  con- 
form to  the  body  of  His  glory.  We  can 


122  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

rest  as  well  in  one  place  as  another.  It 
is  my  wish  to  be  buried  with  the  utmost 
simplicity  — consistent  with  decency  —  at 
the  place  where  I  may  die,  and  that  rny 
remains  be  left  undisturbed  and  in  no 
event  transported  over  the  country.  This 
practice  of  shipping  dead  people  back 
and  forth  on  railroad  cars  seems  hideous 
to  me." 

"I wrote  you  I  went  out  to  prayer-meet- 
ing. Last  night  I  called  upon  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Burton-,  both  much  interested  in  the 
proposed  sanitarium.  I  am  ready  to  give 
time  and  advice  but  have  not  seen  fit  to 
subscribe.  There  are  many  calls  on  me 
for  my  money  and  I  use  it  in  lines  where 
others  will  not  give,  leaving  such  enter- 
prises as  the  sanitarium  for  persons  who 
will  give  to  it  but  would  not  give  to 
purely  religious  matters." 

"June  21.  Have  been  going  out  at 
night  this  week.  I  wish  to  visit  my 
friends  when  I  can." 

July  8.  Writing  from  Nogales  he  says  : 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  123 

"  Am  in  the  midst  of  the  trial  of  a  case. 
Am  getting  on  pretty  well  with  it.  It  in- 
volves a  large  amount  and  presents  a 
number  of  issues.  Had  a  good  rest  last 
night  and  am  feeling  as  well  as  usual. 
Am  always  thinking  of  you."  Later  he 
writes:  "  Have  gained  the  case.  Client 
much  pleased." 

"  July  9.  Am  writing  you  from  the 
court-room  in  the  intervals  between  cases. 
Have  had  a  number  of  matters  here  and 
they  have  kept  me  busy  but  am  feeling 
as  well  as  usual.  I  wrote  you  the  weather 
was  cool  and  very  pleasant  but  no  rain. 
The  suffering  and  loss  among  the  cattle 
are  very  great  and  many  men  may  be 
bankrupted.  Riches  certainly  take  wings 
and  fly  away.  Our  trust  is  in  the  living 
God,  the  maker  of  heaven  and  earth." 


"  I  know  not  where  His  islands  lift 
Their  fronded  palms  in  air, 
I  only  know  I  cannot  drift 
Beyond  His  love  and  care." 


124  ROCHESTER   FORD. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

HIS     SUMMER     VISIT     TO     ST.    LOUIS   AND 
RETURN   TO    TUCSON. 

It  became  necessary  in  order  to  attend 
to  some  business  that  he  should  return 
through  Santa  Fe.  Having  been  greatly 
distressed  by  oppressivebreathing through 
the  spring  and  summer  he  was  apprehen- 
sive that  this  feature  would  be  much 
aggravated  by  the  high  altitude.  But 
with  that  sense  of  duty  that  ever  char- 
acterized him  he  put  aside  personal  con- 
siderations and  decided  upon  that  route. 
As  he  feared  his  suffering  was  greatly  in- 
creased, and  when  he  reached  St.  Louis 
on  August  8th  he  was  unusually  fatigued. 
A  few  days  rest  benefited  him  very  per- 
ceptibly, but  it  was  evident  to  his  family 
and  friends  that  he  had  not  gained 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  125 

strength  during  the  past  year.  Ever  a 
joy  for  him  to  be  at  home  it  was  particu- 
larly delightful  when  his  physical  condi- 
tion demanded  the  thousand  delicate  at- 
tentions which  it  was  such  a  holy  pleasure 
for  every  member  of  the  household  to  be- 
stow. His  interest  in  everything  pertain- 
ing to  the  happiness  and  comfort  of  those 
he  loved  was  beautiful  and  unceasing. 
He  was  ever  devising  and  providing 
means  to  improve  and  beautify  the  home. 
Always  before  leaving  Tucson  "  he 
set  his  house  in  order,"  arranging  all 
matters  so  he  could  leave  them  without 
any  anxiety.  Thus  his  summers  were 
spent  in  a  delightsome  freedom  from  care. 
He  loved  nature  and  was  most  apprecia- 
tive of  her  varying  moods.  The  great 
stretches  of  landscape  with  their  verdur- 
ous covering,  the  stately  trees,  the  shim- 
mering light  of  noonday,  the  glories  of 
the  setting  sun,  the  trembling  twilight, 
the  flowers,  the  birds,  all  appealed  to  his 
sense  of  beauty  and  evoked  expressions 


126  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

of  grateful   admiration.      He  saw   God 
in  all. 

Occasional  visits  to  the  city  looking 
up  points  in  the  Law  Library  bearing  on 
cases  he  had  on  hand  for  Missouri  clients, 
extensive  correspondence,  general  read- 
ing with  visits  from  friends,  made  the  two 
months  of  his  stay  pass  so  swiftly  that 
when  the  time  for  return  "West  came,  his 
visit  seemed  all  too  short.  He  with  his 
family  looked  upon  his  stay  as  the  marked 
epoch  of  the  year. 

Leaving  St.  Louis  October  1st,  he  had 
varying  experience  on  reaching  Tucson. 
The  breathing  was  fitful,  but  at  times 
very  painful.  October  13th  he  writes: 
"  Slept  last  night  without  discomfort,  for 
which  I  devoutly  thank  our  Heavenly 
Father.  Our  lives  are  in  His  hands. 
Am  just  about  as  I  was  at  Woodland. 
I  should  be  so  thankful  if  I  had  more 
strength  and  freedom  from  the  shortness 
of  breath.  Do  not  cease  to  pray  for  me 
that  I  may  rejoice  in  the  Lord  and  sub- 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  127 

mit  myself  to  Him.  If  I  can  get  around 
I  will  try  to  honor  Him  by  so  doing  and 
if  the  time  should  come  that  I  cannot  en- 
gage in  the  activities  of  life,  this  will  be 
all  right  also.  Pray  that  I  may  have  peace 
and  composure  of  mind.  I  wish  I  felt  a 
little  mite  of  strength  so  that  everything 
would  not  seem  a  burden.  I  shall  not  give 
up.  The  Lord  knows  what  is  best  for 
me.  Pray  for  me  that  I  may  not  be  dis- 
quieted or  downcast.  I  am  looking  to  the 
Lord  for  support  in  every  time  of  need. 
God  bless  you  all.  Some  time  we  shall 
all  be  united  where  sorrow  is  no  more." 
Later  he  says :  "  My  thoughts  have 
been  constantly  with  you  all.  I  always 
think  of  you,  but  for  the  past  few  days 
every  moment  has  been  filled  with  thought 
of  home.  I  know  that  you  love  me  and 
sympathize  with  me  and  this  cheers  me 
in  times  of  pain.  My  mind  is  at  ease 
and  I  have  faith  in  God  and  have  resigned 
myself  wholly  to  His  righteous  will  and 
will  take  without  murmuring  anything 


128  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

that  comes  from  His  hands.  If  He  would 
relieve  me  fr*om  this  distressed  breathing 
it  would  be  a  comfort  to  be  devoutly 
thankful  for,  but  if  His  purposes  are 
otherwise  it  will  work  for  my  good.  My 
heart  is  not  troubled. 

"  I  thought  last  night  how  blessed  it 
would  be  if  the  Lord  would  come.  To 
think  of  being  with  Him  and  with  each 
other  in  a  realm  where  there  is  no  night 
and  no  sickness  is  a  blessed  outlook. 
When  some  of  us  have  been  taken  above 
the  others  can  remember  that  we  have 
always  been  kind  to  each  other.  There 
was  not  an  unkind  word  spoken  by  any 
one  while  I  was  with  you,  and  it  has  been 
thus  at  all  times.  This  is  something  to 
remember  with  great  pleasure." 

As  we  have  before  mentioned,  his 
friends  in  Tucson  never  realized  his  fee- 
ble condition  nor  his  painful  suffering. 
And  when  his  party  needed  a  leader  they 
called  upon  him. 

On  October  17th  he  wrote  his  mother : 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  129 

"  I  send  you  a  marked  copy  of  the  Cit- 
izen, from  which  you  will  see  that  I  have 
been  asked  to  take  full  charge  of  the 
campaign,  just  as  I  did  two  years  ago. 
I  belive  I  can  do  some  good  and  will  try 
it.  All  the  clerical  work  I  will  have  others 
do.  I  made  an  effort  and  got  out  to  the 
grand  meeting  to  welcome  Hon.  Mark 
Smith,  and  presided.  I  am  thinking  that 
the  time  when  I  can  get  around  at  night 
is  fast  drawing  to  a  close  and  I  may  be 
one  of  the  <  shut  ins.'  26th.  The  ab- 
solute control  of  the  campaign  is  on  my 
hands,  and  I  am  called  upon  to  decide 
every  question  of  policy  and  to  superin- 
tend a  great  deal  of  the  detail.  The 
Democrats  have  put  up  good  men,  and  I 
wish  to  show  them  that  I  am  always  ready 
to  help  them  when  they  do.  Unless  the 
citizens  of  Tucson  help  and  aid  good 
candidates  and  work  against  poor  ones  we 
should  soon  be  under  the  reign  of  the 
boodlers."  December  15  he  writes: 
"  Dr.  Worrell's  letter  is  a  good  one.  I 

9 


130  ROCHESTER  FORD. 

believe  God's  word  and  know  His  love  and 
power,  but  I  do  not  feel  that  He  has 
promised  to  heal  all  sick  people.  I  don't 
want  my  faith  in  God  to  turn  into  fanat- 
icism. I  pray  for  His  blessing  and  that 
He  will  give  me  strength  if  it  is  His  will 
and  if  it  is  not  that  He  will  enable  me  to 
go  on  in  weakness  and  pain.  He  works 
according  to  the  counsel  of  His  will,  and 
He  is  a  faithful  creator,  and  those  who 
suffer  according  to  His  will  can  commit 
their  souls  unto  Him.  He  has  sustained 
me  thus  far  and  will  keep  me  to  the  end. 
December  25,  his  last  Christmas  day, 
he  wrote :  u  My  Dear  Mother :  I  hope  all 
the  dear  ones  at  home  are  enjoying  them- 
selves. I  shall  pass  the  day  very  quietly. 
Breathing  not  good.  It  wakes  me  in  the 
night  and  sometimes  keeps  me  awake. 
However,  I  get  on  better  than  one  would 
suppose.  The  capacity  of  the  human 
frame  to  stand  suffering  as  I  know  by  my 
own  case  is  great.  People  get  used  to 
things  and  I  go  on  and  attend  to  busi- 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  131 

ness  when  I  am  so  short  of  breath  and 
distressed  that  after  it  is  over  I  wonder 
how  I  got  through.  The  Lord  keeps 
me  and  as  the  strain  comes  he  will  give 
me  needed  strength.  I  am  trusting  in 
Him  fully  and  my  heart  is  not  fearful. 
Am  always  thinking  of  all  the  dear  ones 
at  home." 

Oct.  29.  "  I  am  just  through  with  a  case 
which  I  tried  for  two  days.  A  wretched 
husband  was  trying  to  impose  upon  his 
wife;  I  defended  her  and  gained  the  case 
for  which  I  am  very  glad.  Sometimes  I 
get  through  without  much  discomfort 
while  at  other  times  there  is  a  good  deal 
of  distress.  If  there  were  not  a  better 
country  than  this  and  a  house  of  God 
eternal  in  the  heaven,  this  would  be  a 
poor  world.  But  we  can  rejoice  in  the 
Lord  and  in  Him  I  do  rejoice,  and  like 
the  apostle  will  rejoice.  Nothing  new  to 
write  you.  I  go  through  much  of  a  rou- 
tine, working  in  my  office  through  the 
day  and  spending  the  nights  at  home, 


132  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

not  going  out  at  all.    I  am  sorry  I  am  shut 
in  at  night,  but  it  is  all  for  the  best." 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

HIS  MOTHER'S  VISIT  TO  HIM. 

Through  all  the  years  of  his  stay  in 
Tucson  his  daily  letters  to  his  mother 
gave  her  an  accurate  idea  of  his  condi- 
tion. To  his  friends  and  acquaintances 
he  never  complained.  No  one  in  constant 
contact  with  him  ever  heard  a  word  with 
regard  to  his  sufferings.  For  the  last 
two  years  they  feared  from  his  physical 
appearance  and  oppressed  breathing  that 
he  was  not  improving,  but  no  words 
were  ever  passed  on  the  subject. 

From  the  letters  received  by  his  mother 
through  January,  1903,  it  was  evident  to 
her  he  was  not  so  well  as  when  he  left  St. 
Louis  the  previous  October.  He  was 
troubled  not  only  with  increased  difficulty 
in  breathing  but  with  great  pain  in  the 
diaphragm.  She  felt  he  needed  her  pres- 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYEE.  133 

ence,  and  the  following  from  Phoenix, 
where  he  had  gone  in  behalf  of  the  in- 
terests of  Pima  County,  decided  her  to 
make  the  visit:  "Wish  I  could  write  you 
that  I  am  well,  but  cannot.  This  breath- 
ing is  bad,  I  stand  it  to  a  degree  that  I 
hardly  thought  possible  but  cannot  help 
thinking  if  it  gets  much  worse  it  will 
show  me  that  I  must  stop  traveling.  It 
is  all  in  His  hands  and  the  more  I  suffer 
the  more  I  can  rejoice  in  Him.  You  love 
me  when  I  am  feeble  and  certainly  He 
does.  He  is  the  joy  of  our  salvation ; 
'  What  time  I  am  afraid  I  will  trust  in 
thee.'  He  had  been  contemplating  a 
trip  to  Charleston,  S.  C.,  to  meet  the 
directors  of  a  large  ranch  in  which 
he  had  an  interest  and  for  which  he 
had  been  legal  adviser  for  years.  This 
he  had  to  forego.  It  was  inferred  from 
this  that  he  was  not  so  well,  for  noth- 
ing but  impossibility  ever  deterred  him 
from  meeting  an  obligation. 

The  next  day,  February  11,  he  wrote : 


134:  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

"  My  Dear  Mother:  I  returned  from  Phoe- 
nix this  morning  having  gone  over  one 
night  and  coming  back  the  next.  In  our 
land  case  the  Loan  Commission  made  a 
decision  after  I  wrote  you,  which  was 
greatly  to  our  advantage.  As  matters 
now  stand  the  interest  charge  will  now 
be  $9,500  a  year  as  against  $20,000  which 
the  bondholders  were  demanding.  My 
efforts  have  thus  resulted  in  cutting  the 
charge  in  half  and  the  friends  here  whom 
I  have  told  of  the  matter  are  greatly 
pleased." 

His  mother  left  St.  Louis  for  Tucson 
about  the  middle  of  February,  and  under 
her  care  and  cheering  presence  he  was 
temporarily  better.  It  was  a  joyous 
occasion  for  both,  and  now  the  son  has 
gone  above,  it  is  a  holy  memory  to  be 
cherished  through  the  passing  years  that 
intervene  until  their  reunion  in  heaven. 

Never,  perhaps,  were  there  ever  found 
two  more  congenial  souls  than  the 
mother  and  her  son.  There  appeared  to 


A   SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.  135 

exist  an  uninterrupted  telepathic  com- 
munication between  them.  They  seemed 
ever  to  understand  each  other  perfectly 
and  their  mutual  love  was  unbounded. 

During  her  stay  he  was  strong  enough 
to  walk  to  church,  having,  however,  to 
make  several  pauses  for  breath.  He 
taught  the  Bible  class  and  aided  when 
necessary  in  the  services.  He  could  not 
get  out  at  night,  but  such  was  his  interest 
in  the  little  church,  that  when  Mr.  Pavey, 
the  evangelist,  held  a  two  weeks'  meet- 
ing, he  would  invariably  keep  awake  that 
he  might  hear  his  mother's  report,  and 
it  gave  him  joy  to  know  that  sinners 
were  finding  the  Savior. 

He  ever  exercised  a  solid,  deliberate 
faith  in  Christ  which  he  realized  had  to 
grow  day  by  day  through  exercise. 
There  was  depth  in  the  soil  and  so  the 
good  seed  sprung  up  and  produced  an 
hundredfold. 

Each  day  before  the  morning  meal 
"  faithful  Ben,"  his  Chinese  cook,  was 


136  ROCHESTER  FORD. 

called  to  the  dining-room,  the  Scriptures 
were  read,  and  Jesus  who  died  for  the 
sins  of  the  world  and  for  his  sins,  ex- 
plained to  him,  and  then  the  three  knelt 
while  he  offered  up  earnest  prayer  for 
strength  and  wisdom  for  the  day  that 
God's  will  might  be  done. 

He  refused  all  invitations  to  go  out  but 
was  in  his  office  every  day,  always  under 
some  degree  of  suffering.  His  life,  al- 
though one  of  routine,  was  by  no  means 
a  monotone.  Business,  often  pressing, 
through  the  day,  and  books  in  the  even- 
ing, kept  his  mind  ever  active  and 
expanding. 

He  was  called  the  "  generous  lawyer 
of  Tucson." 

One  morning  while  at  breakfast,  Ben 
announced  that  a  man  wished  to  see  Mr. 
Ford.  "  Ask  him  to  the  door."  The  poor 
man  presented  himself  and  after  bidding 
"  Good  morning"  with  a  low  bow, 
said:  — 

"  Mr.  Ford,  I  am  a  stranger  in  the  city 


A    SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  137 

and  I  am  expecting  some  important  let- 
ters, will  you  let  me  have  them  put  in 
your  box?  ' 

"  Certainly,  sir,"  was  the  pleasant 
reply. 

The  mother  laughed  and  asked  :  "  Son, 
why  did  he  come  to  you?  " 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know,  unless  it  be  I  am 
considered  public  property." 

He  helped  everybody  who  applied  to 
him  and  his  character  being  known  he  had 
many  and  varied  demands.  "I  wish  to 
serve  my  generation,"  he  often  said  to  his 
mother,  "  The  coming  generation  will 
take  care  of  itself." 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

HIS   LAST   RETURN   TO    ST.  LOUIS. 

For  twelve  years  it  had  been  his  cus- 
tom as  the  burning  months  approached, 
to  leave  his  exile  with  all  his  professional 
business  and  revisit  his  parents  in  their 
suburban  home.  Here  in  the  bosom  of 


138  ROCHESTER  FORD. 

his  family,  every  member  of  which  was 
devoted  to  him,  he  passed  the  summer 
months  in  quiet  rest.  It  was  a  joy  to 
them  and  to  him  which  daily  manifested 
itself  in  his  affectionate  tenderness  and 
his  thoughtful  care.  He  was  ever  seek- 
ing opportunity  to  add  to  their  comfort 
and  enjoyment.  These  visits  were  an 
untold  happiness  to  him  a  ray  of  blessed 
sunshine.  His  surroundings  in  Tucson 
were  beautiful  and  luxurious.  Every- 
thing that  could  be  desired  in  the  way 
of  elegant  comfort  he  was  able  to  com- 
mand and  his  many  friends  loved  and 
clung  to  him,  thus  bestowing  a  happiness 
not  often  found  among  strangers.  But 
to  be  at  home  with  father,  mother,  sister 
and  brother  was  the  height  of  earthly 
bliss  to  his  affectionate  nature. 

He  did  not  improve  after  his  mother's 
visit  to  Tucson  in  April,  and  realizing 
the  fact  that  he  might  not  return  again 
to  Tucson,  he  scheduled  his  property, 
moneys  and  unfinished  cases,  placing  the 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  139 

document    in    the    hands   of    a   trusted 
friend. 

On  June  12th :  "I  write  from  the  court 
room.  Have  for  two  days  been  trying  ,a 
case  of  Barnes  &  Martin  against  Santa 
Cruz  County,  wherein  they  are  claiming 
an  outrageous  fee.  I  hope  in  the  course 
of  justice  that  we  can  defeat  them. 

"  This  breathing  is  very  bad  at  times,  so 
much  so  it  seems  I  could  not  stand  much 
more.  Pray  for  me  that  I  may  have 
grace  at  all  times."  The  next  day,  13th  : 
"  I  wrote  you  yesterday  from  the  court 
room  during  the  trial  of  the  case  of  Barnes 
&  Martin  against  Santa  Cruz  County. 
They  were  suing  for  some  $9,600  balance 
of  a  fee  and  got  a  verdict  of  only  $2,000 
which  we  regard  as  a  signal  victory  for 
our  side.  The  representatives  of  Santa 
Cruz  County  are  greatly  pleased  with  the 
result.  The  short  breathing  keeps  me 
in  a  great  deal  of  distress,  but  the  Lord 
is  with  me.  Dr.  Rubens  will  come  this 
afternoon  and  give  me  a  massage  treat- 
ment. Hope  it  will  relieve  me.  Dr. 


140  ROCHESTER  FORD. 

Fenner's  strong  medicine  will  give  tem- 
porary relief,  but  I  dislike  to  take  it. 
Let  your  prayers  ascend  to  the  throne  of 
grace  that  I  may  have  strength  to  endure 
whatever  the  Lord  sends." 

July  2.  "  Have  decided  to  leave  here 
on  Monday  morning.  Would  be  glad  to 
go  away  a  day  sooner  but  my  conscience 
would  not  be  at  ease  if  I  traveled  on 
Sunday,  and  although  I  am  fully  ready 
to  leave,  I  will  wait  over  another  day  and 
set  out  on  Monday;"  which  he  did, 
arriving  at  Union  Station  Thursday 
morning.  He  was  met  at  the  midway 
gate  by  his  sister,  who,  seeing  his  ex- 
haustion from  his  long  trip,  attended  to 
his  trunks,  etc.,  and  the  two  reached 
Woodland  at  11  o'clock.  A  friend, 
Mr.  M.  A.  Seed,  president  of  the  "  Seed 
Dry  Plate  Company,"  met  them  with  an 
automobile,  and  after  a  little  ride  through 
the  immediate  neighborhood,  he  reached 
his  home,  where  he  was  welcomed  with 
every  manifestation  of  joy.  He  gave 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  141 

evidences  of  slight  improvement  in  some 
points  but  his  strength  did  not  return. 
He  wrote  to  Dr.  Julian  P.  Thomas,  of 
~New  York,  for  his  treatment,  which  he 
tried,  but  he  was  not  benefited.  It  was 
his  purpose  to  meet  the  directors  of  the 
San  Kafael  Ranch  at  the  Fifth  Avenue 
hotel,  New  York,  on  August  6,  but 
when  the  time  came  to  do  so,  he  found 
he  had  not  strength  for  the  trip;  so, 
instructing  his  mother  with  regard  to  his 
wishes,  he  sent  her  to  represent  him. 

Just  five  weeks  to  the  day  he  reached  his 
home  he  passed  to  his  home  above.  His 
testimony  was  clear  and  beautiful.  One 
day  after  he  and  his  father  had  prayed 
together  he  said :  "  Father,  I  don't  wish 
you  to  have  any  doubt  with  regard  to  my 
acceptance  with  Christ.  I  have  trusted 
Him  through  life  and  my  trust  is  firmer 
now  than  ever." 

To  his  sister  he  said  :  "  May,  were  it  not 
for  parting  with  father  and  mother  and 
you  and  Sam,  I  would  gladly  lie  down  on 
this  pillow  and  pass  away,  oh,  I  would  go 


142  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

so  cheerfully."  At  one  time  his  father 
seeing  his  distress  and  feeling  the  end 
must  come,  said  :  "  It  seems  sad,  my  son, 
that  you  in  the  very  prime  of  years  and 
usefulness  should  be  thus  stricken 
down."  "Oh,  no,  father,"  was  the  in- 
stant reply ;  "  look  at  John  the  Baptist, 
cut  off  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness. 
God  has  a  purpose  which  He  is  working 
out  according  to  the  counsel  of  His  will 
and  it  is  all  right."  Such  a  deep,  well- 
grounded,  vital  and  all-transmuting  faith  is 
rarely  manifested.  His  mother  returned 
from  New  York  Thursday  morning,  a 
few  hours  before  he  passed  above.  She 
learned  from  the  nurse  on  entering  the 
house  that  he  was  no  better.  Hastening 
to  his  room  she  leaned  over  him  and 
kissed  him."  Precious  mother,  precious 
mother,"  he  said  in  a  clear,  strong  voice. 
u  How  is  it  with  you,  my  dear  son,"  she 
asked  in  loving  tones.  "  Clear,  mother, 
perfectly  clear."  He  had  ascended  to 
his  room  Tuesday  night  as  usual  with  no 
more  difficulty  of  breathing  than  before. 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  143 

Wednesday  he  was  too  feeble  to  rise  from 
his  bed.  Up  to  Thursday  morning  his 
breathing  had  been  very  distressing. 
From  the  early  daylight  it  had  become 
easy  and  natural  and  at  12 :  45,  as  one 
falling  to  sweet  sleep,  he  went  away  rest- 
ing in  his  mother's  loving  arms. 

No  struggle,  no  pang  as  a  warning  was 
given.  Death  bended  his  bow  and  the 
saint  was  in  heaven.  Lovely  in  life, 
lovely  in  death,  how  much  lovelier  must 
he  be  in  that  home  above  where  all  is 
life  and  light  and  joy. 

Absent  from  the  body,  present  with  the 
Lord.  Oh,  how  dark  the  cloud,  but  the 
bow  of  assured  hope  spanned  it.  Gone, 
yes,  gone  —  but  leaving  light  even  in 
death's  dark  gloom,  for  — 

There  was  peace  in  the  last  loving  words  he  breathed ; 
There  was  peace  in  the  smile  that  his  lips  enwreathed; 
There  was  peace  in  his  calm  and  confident  air, 
For  his  last  thoughts  were  God's  and  his  last  breath  a 
prayer. 

A  life  which  amid  the  temptations  of 
youth  —  the  conflict  of  the  legal  profes- 
sion, the  excitement  of  party  politics, 


144  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

and  the  strain  of  constant  business,  was 
unspotted  by  the  world,  filled  with  good 
deeds  —  rewarded  with  success,  and 
crowned  with  the  victory  of  faith,  — 
must  have  its  ever-widening  influence 
drawing  many  into  the  kingdom  of  our 
Lord  and  Savior. 

"And  I  heard  a  voice  from  heaven, 
saying,  Write,  Blessed  are  the  dead  who 
die  in  the  Lord  from  henceforth :  yea, 
saith  the  Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from 
their  labors ;  for  their  works  follow  with 
them." 

In  consonance  with  his  oft-repeated 
wish  there  were  no  evidences  of  mourn- 
ing in  the  home  where  his  body  lay  in 
sweet  repose.  No  crepe  on  the  door- 
knob, no  crepe  on  the  family.  Sunshine 
in  the  room  where  his  stilled  form  rested 
quietly  "asleep  in  Jesus/'  Friends 
came  with  flowers  and  words  of  sympathy 
and  trust,  looked  into  the  calm  face  and 
turned  away  with  the  expression  "  how 
beautiful."  It  was  a  funeral  wheie  faith 
triumphed  over  tears. 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAYWER.  145 

After  religious  services  at  the  house 
conducted  by  J.  C.  Armstrong,  the  body 
followed  by  the  family  and  loving  friends, 
was  borne  and  laid  in  "  Beautiful  Belle- 
fontaine,"  there  to  rest  until  that  morn- 
ing when  the  Lord  Himself  shall  descend 
from  heaven  with  the  voice  of  the  arch- 
angel and  the  trumpet  of  God,  and  the 
dead  in  Christ  shall  rise.  Come,  Lord 
Jesus,  come  quickly.  We  shall  miss  him 
evermore. 

And  yet,  dear  one,  remembering  thee, 
Am  I  not  richer  than  of  old? 
Safe  in  thy  immortality 
What  change  can  mar  the  wealth  I  hold? 
What  chance  can  mar  the  pearl  and  gold 
Thy  love  hath  left  in  trust  with  me? 
And  while  in  life's  late  afternoon 
When  cool  and  long  the  shadows  grow, 
I  walk  to  meet  the  night,  which  soon 
Shall  shape  and  shadow  overflow, 
I  cannot  feel  that  thou  art  far 
Since  near,  at  need,  the  angels  are; 
And  when  the  sunset  gates  unbar 
Shall  I  not  see  thee  waiting  stand, 
And  white  against  the  evening  star 
The  welcome  of  thy  beckoning  hand? 

10 


146  ROCHESTER    FORD. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

MEMORIAL   SERVICES. 

We  read  in  God's  word  of  the  Lord's 
servant :  "  Even  the  Lord  God  of  hosts  ; 
the  Lord  is  his  memorial ;  "  And  yet  it  is 
declared  of  the  men  of  God  who  led  the 
returning  Israelites :  "  And  the  crowns 
shall  be  to  them  for  a  memorial  in  the 
temple  of  the  Lord."  "The  memory  of 
the  wicked  shall  be  cut  off,"  "  but  the 
memory  of  the  just  is  blessed."  "  A  good 
name  is  rather  to  be  chosen  than  great 
riches  and  loving  favor  rather  than  silver 
and  gold." 

Rochester  Ford  had  been  severed  from 
the  Third  Baptist  Church  of  St.  Louis 
for  twelve  years,  but  his  memory  was 
cherished,  and  his  name  was  the  synonym 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  147 

for  uprightness,  piety  and  zeal.  And 
when  he  passed  away  it  was  promptly 
arranged  that  a  general  "  Memorial  Ser- 
vice "  should  be  held  by  the  Third 
Church.  It  was  Wednesday  evening, 
September  9th.  The  house  was  filled 
and  a  deep  solemnity  rested  on  all.  The 
pastor,  Rev.  W.  J.  Williamson,  presided. 
He  had  but  slight  personal  acquaintance 
with  the  departed,  but  he  knew  him  well 
by  reputation. 

He  introduced  the  services  with  tender 
words  and  reading  letters  from  pastors 
of  other  churches  who  had  personally 
known  Rochester.  He  then  introduced 
those  who  were  expected  to  speak. 

"Mr.  Rochester  Ford  I  well  knew,  hav- 
ing had  at  one  time  a  desk  in  one  of  his  law- 
offices,"  said  Hon.  Breckenridge  Jones, 
now  vice-president  of  the  Mississippi 
Valley  Trust  Co.,  St.  Louis,  "  a  calm, 
dignified  gentleman,  firm  in  his  integrity 
and  candor,  yet  fearless  in  speech,  prompt 
in  action  and  ever  correct  in  conduct. 


148  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

His  clients  could  rely  on  him.  His  word 
had  weight  with  the  courts.  The  judges 
knew  he  was  presenting  facts  without 
the  shade  of  equivocation.  His  noble 
character  was  evident  in  all  he  did.  He 
was  truly  a  successful  Christian  lawyer." 
*  *  *  His  bosom  friend,  while  he  was 
a  member  of  the  Third  Church,  Paul 
Jones,  a  leading  real  estate  agent  of  the 
city,  said :  "  I  never  knew  a  man  to  love 
his  home  as  Rochester  Ford  did.  When 
we  walked  out  together  he  would  allude 
in  tenderest  sympathy  to  his  parents, 
sister  and  brother.  He  would  refuse  any 
invitation  that  would  keep  him  out  late 
and  thus  deprive  him  of  their  society. 
He  honored  his  father  with  something 
akin  to  devotion." 

Hon.  A.  Mackay,  a  friend  and  brother 
lawyer,  said :  — 

"I  heartily  indorse  all  that  has  been 
said  — and  so  well  said  —  by  the  other 
speakers  who  have  preceded  me,  as  to  the 
noble  and  manly  qualities  possessed,  in 


A   SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.  149 

so  marked  a  manner,  by  our  dear  friend, 
who  has  passed  out  from  us.  Possibly  I 
have  known  the  family  of  our  dear  friend 
for  a  longer  period  of  time  than  any  one 
present.  Almost  fifty  years  ago,  when 
I  was  a  small  boy,  down  in  the  old  town 
of  Henderson,  Kentucky,  the  parents  of 
.Rochester  came  to  my  father's,  spend- 
ing some  time  with  us.  I  have  known 
the  family  from  that  date  to  the  present 
time.  My  acquaintance  with  Rochester 
extends  back  to  his  childhood  days  and 
I  can  truthfully  say  that  I  have  never 
known  a  more  manly  and  upright  man 
in  all  the  walks  of  life  than  was  our 
friend. 

"  I  have  known,  from  experience,  the 
difficulties  and  trials  of  a  young  man 
starting  in  the  noble  profession  of  the 
law,  so  ably  followed  by  our  friend,  and 
yet  he  met  with  marked  success  early  in 
life,  in  his  practice  in  St.  Louis,  and  was 
known  and  recognized  as  one  of  the  lead- 
ing young  lawyers  in  this  community, 


150  ROCHESTER  FORD. 

with  a  large  and  paying  practice,  at  the 
time  ill-health  overtook  him.  He  was 
one  of  the  youngest  men,  — if  not  the 
youngest,  —  who  has  filled  one  of  the 
chairs,  as  a  professor  and  instructor  of 
law,  in  the  Law  School  of  Washington 
University ;  the  duties  of  which  he  per- 
formed with  signal  ability  during  his 
time  of  the  occupancy  of  his  chair.  His 
prospects  were  indeed  bright  for  the 
future  when  he  was  compelled  to  give  it 
all  up,  on  account  of  sudden  prostration 
by  la  grippe,  and  upon  the  advice  of  his 
physician  and  friends  he  left  St.  Louis 
and  set  out  for  the  great  Southwest. 
He  located  in  Tucson,  Arizona.  When 
he  reached  that  section  of  the  country, 
he  did  not  sit  down  quietly  as  a  dis- 
couraged man,  — as  most  of  men  under 
like  circumstances  would  have  done, — 
but  by  force  of  will  and  ability,  he  began 
life  again  among  strangers  in  a  strange 
land,  to  build  up  and  practice  his  pro- 
fession, and  succeeded  in  a  marked 


A   SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.  151 

degree.  He  held  important  positions  in 
Tucson ;  he  soon  became  known  as  a 
safe  and  able  lawyer  and  enjoyed  a  large 
and  lucrative  practice  in  that  Territory, 
being  employed  in  cases  involving  large 
interests,  in  the  prosecution  and  defense 
of  which  he  met  with  deserved  success. 
He  was  also  engaged  in  the  argument 
of  cases  in  the  United  States  Supreme 
Court  at  Washington.  Now,  then,  to  do 
and  accomplish  this  required  ability  of  a 
high  and  commanding  nature. 

"  He  was  also  a  devoted  and  pious 
Christian .  He  took  hold  of  the  small  Bap- 
tist church  in  Tucson,  gathered  around 
him  the  few  scattered  members,  en- 
couraged them  by  his  kindly  advice ;  he 
repaired  the  church  building  and  when 
they  had  no  pastor,  he  ministered  unto 
them  in  sacred  things.  ISTo  ordinary 
man  could  or  would  have  done  this,  and 
it  speaks  wonders  for  him.  His  loss  will 
be  greatly  felt  by  those  dear  people  who 


152  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

loved  him  and  admired  him  and  he  will 
be  greatly  missed  by  all  who  knew  him. 

"  He  was  a  dutiful  son,  kind  brother, 
faithful  and  true  in  all  the  walks  of  life 
and  a  Christian  gentleman.  What  more 
and  better  could  be  said  of  any  man? 
As  compared  with  these  noble  qualities, 
the  possession  of  wealth,  —  with  its  silver 
and  gold  — vanishes  away  and  disappears 
from  view,  like  mists  before  the  sunlight 
of  the  early  morning. 

"  Finally,  it  is  a  consoling  thought,  to 
his  family  and  many  friends,  that  when 
his  spirit  left  the  weak  body,  it  passed  up 
beyond  the  clouds  and  sorrows  of  this 
life,  and  still  upward  in  its  flight,  beyond 
the  stars,  and  now  rests  very  near  the 
feet  of  the  Blessed  Master." 

4 '  While  not  extensively  acquainted  with 
Mr.  Ford,"  testified  Mr.  M.  P.  Moody," 
of  the  American  Baptist  Publication 
Society,  "  I  knew  his  character  from  the 
books  he  ordered  through  his  years  of 
residence  in  Arizona.  A  man  can  always 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  153 

be  judged  by  the  literature  he  seeks.  In 
this  respect  I  have  never  had  a  customer 
who  so  invariably  made  choice  of  the 
best  authors,  ancient  and  modern.  His 
knowledge  of  general  literature  was  very 
comprehensive.  I  had  often  to  order 
books  for  him  from  other  houses." 
A.  W.  Payne,  of  the  Central  Baptist: 
"I  met  Rochester  Ford  about  twenty 
years  ago,  and  was  somewhat  intimately 
associated  with  him  in  a  business  way, 
socially,  and  in  the  work  of  the  Third 
Baptist  Church.  He  was  sympathetic 
but  not  gushing.  He  was  true  to  his 
friends  and  did  injustice  to  no  one.  He 
was  as  conscientious  and  painstaking  as 
a  lawyer  as  he  was  as  a  Christian  man. 
He  had  the  confidence  of  rich  and  poor 
alike,  and  at  a  very  early  age  found  him- 
self placed  in  positions  of  great  responsi- 
bility by  wealthy  business  men  who  saw 
in  him  a  competent  and  safe  adviser. 
He  gave  the  same  careful  thought  to 
matters  seemingly  small  as  to  those  in- 


154  ROCHESTER  FORD. 

volving  large  amounts  of  money.  What- 
ever he  did,  he  did  well. 

"  He  was  regular  in  his  attendance  upon 
church  services,  and  was  as  thoroughly 
alive  to  the  interests  of  his  church  and 
denomination  as  to  the  business  interests 
of  his  clients.  He  was  a  teacher,  not  a 
magnetic  speaker,  but  as  he  spoke  his 
hearers  were  convinced  that  back  of  it 
all  beat  a  true  heart,  a  firm  purpose  and 
a  strong  conviction  of  the  righteousness 
of  his  cause  and  correctness  of  his  state- 
ments. When  he  spoke  in  prayer  meet- 
ing or  in  the  Sunday-school  class,  he 
was  listened  to  with  earnest  attention, 
and  everyone  felt  helped  by  what  he  had 
to  say. 

"  As  a  scholar  he  took  high  rank  in 
whatever  field  of  investigation  or  learn- 
ing he  might  be  called  upon  to  work. 

"  He  had  a  good  reputation  among 
those  who  were  not  of  his  own  religious 
faith,  as  is  evidenced  by  the  words  of  ap- 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  155 

preciation  and  commendation  spoken  and 
written  by  those  who  were  not  in  har- 
mony with  him  in  his  peculiar  Baptist 
views. 

"  One  of  the  most  beautiful  traits  of  his 
character  was  his  loyalty  to  his  friends, 
his  readiness  to  sympathize  with  them, 
help  them,  and  stand  by  them.  Not  one 
of  them  lacked  when  he  knew  their 
wants. 

"I  have  seldom  seen  a  young  man  more 
devoted  to  his  parents.  On  one  occasion 
I  had  an  opportunity  to  say  something 
specially  commendatory  of  his  distin- 
guished father.  .Rochester's  face  lighted 
up  and  he  was  full  of  enthusiasm  in  his 
eagerness  to  hear  the  whole  story,  and 
his  expression  of  gratitude  to  me  for 
telling  it  to  him  made  an  impression 
which  I  shall  never  forget. 

"  Rochester  Ford  was  an  exemplary 
young  man,  an  ideal  Christian  character, 
one  who  ripened  early  for  heaven." 


156  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

Mr.  A.  D.  Brown,  President  of  the 
Hamilton-Brown  Shoe  Co.,  who  had 
known  Rochester  since  he  was  a  boy,  bore 
tender  testimony  to  his  grand  character 
and  consistent  Christian  life  and  to  his 
ability  as  a  scholar  and  business  man  of 
unflinching  integrity,  in  these  words  :  — 

I  had  the  pleasure  of  knowing  Roches- 
ter Ford  a  quarter  of  a  century. 

He  worked  in  his  boyhood  days  as 
a  reporter  on  a  daily  paper.  After 
getting  a  foothold  he  went  to  Washing- 
ton University  in  St.  Louis  where  he 
graduated. 

His  father  and  mother  believed  in  Jesus 
Christ  the  Son  of  God,  and  he  soon  gave 
his  heart  to  the  Lord  and  joined  the  Third 
Baptist  Churchin  St.  Louis.  He  prac- 
ticed law  and  was  always  ready  at  Sunday- 
school  and  prayer-meeting  to  stand  up  for 
Jesus,  and  to  do  his  part  in  the  way  of 
meeting  any  financial  bills  to  be  paid. 

In  1892  we  commenced  the  erection  of 
the  Missouri  Baptist  Sanitarium,  a  prop- 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  157 

erty  that  cost  nearly  $100,000.  He  at 
once  subscribed  five  hundred  dollars. 

He  was  a  living  example  of  a  follower 
of  Jesus,  and  always  was  a  help  and  an 
inspiration  to  me. 

He  was  followed  by  Mr.  W.  C.  Brey, 
Jas.  H.  Campbell,  Charles  P.  Senter, 
and  others. 

There  was  not  a  profession  nor  voca- 
tion unrepresented  in  that  meeting,  and 
one  of  the  deacons  of  the  church  who  had 
not  personally  known  Mr.  Ford,  having 
united  with  the  church  during  his  resi- 
dence in  Arizona,  said  to  his  companion 
as  the  two  walked  home  together :  "  I  did 
not  know  a  man  could  be  so  perfect." 
"  He  was  all  they  represented  him,"  was 
the  reply. 

The  service  was  closed  by  the  aged 
father  thanking  on  the  part  of  the  fam- 
ily, the  friends  for  their  sympathy  in  this 
public  remembrance  of  their  honored 
son. 


158  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

The  feeling  throughout  the  house  was 
deeply  sympathetic  and  appreciative  of 
the  occasion.  The  following  Sunday 
similar  Memorial  Exercises  were  held  at 
the  Missouri  Baptist  Sanitarium,  every 
brother  present  speaking  words  of  ap- 
probatory love  and  esteem.  And  at  the 
meeting  of  the  Missouri  General  Asso- 
ciation held  in  Marshall,  the  following 
October,  resolutions  of  respect  and  love 
were  passed  by  that  body  and  a  strong 
and  tender  statement  of  his  character  and 
usefulness  was  made  by  the  moderator,  E. 
W.  Stephens. 


His  youth  was  spotless,  his  riper  age, 
Marked  with  some  act  of  goodness  every  day. 

And,  watched  by  eyes  that  loved  him  calm  and  sage, 
Faded  his  late  declining  years  away. 

Cheerful  he  gave  his  being  up  and  went 
To  share  a  holy  rest  that  waits  a  life  well  spent. 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  159 


CHAPTER  XXIY. 

SOME   TESTIMONIALS     FROM     THE     MANY 
LETTERS   RECEIVED. 

One  who  had  known  him  from  youth 
thus  writes :  — 

His  was  a  great  and  noble  heart,  work- 
ing for  the  enlightenment  and  uplifting 
of  the  human  family. 

Rochester  Ford  in  his  youth  created 
an  ideal  Christian  character  of  the  most 
exalted  type  and  held  to  it  with  the  life- 
long purpose  of  making  it  the  quicken- 
ing spirit  of  his  real  life  in  business  and 
friendship.  His  real  life  thus  became 
idealized  in  truth,  honor,  and  all  noble 
Christian  virtues.  Thus  he  lived  and 
died,  and  lives  again  in  the  hearts  of  all 
who  knew  him. 


160  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

The  true  value  of  a  life  can  only  be 
measured  by  its  influence  upon  other 
lives  —  the  power  for  good  one  person 
by  living  example  exercises  over  others. 
From  youth  he  was  a  most  remarkable 
character,  impressing  his  finer  qualities 
indelibly  upon  all  with  whom  he  came 
in  contact. 

His  noble  face  and  commanding  figure 
first  attracted  attention,  but  an  intimate 
acquaintance  with  him  showed  these  to 
be  but  an  index  to  his  character  which 
was  unique  in  its  many  varied  beauties. 
He  combined  the  pure  and  tender  quali- 
ties of  a  woman  with  the  brave,  strong 
nature  of  heroic  manhood.  He  was  a 
devoted  son  and  brother,  a  staunch  and 
noble  friend.  His  was  indeed  such  a  life 
as  strengthens  our  faith  in  immortality, 
for  such  men  never  die.  They  live  on 
in  others  whose  lives  gained  a  new  inspi- 
ration or  impulse  for  good  from  his  exam- 
ple and  friendship,  and  no  one  who  knew 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  161 

and  loved  him  can  ever  think  of   him  as 
dead. 

He  found  this  world  rich  in  the  means 
of  knowledge  and  happiness,  but  it  was 
not  difficult  for  him  even  in  youth  and 
early  manhood,  to  believe  there  is  a  more 
glorious  home,  a  wider  and  more  fruitful 
field  for  the  activities  of  man,  and  better 
conditions  for  the  exercise  of  his  thoughts 
and  affections.  Therefore  it  is  natural 
for  those  who  knew  him  and  were  im- 
pressed with  his  reverence  for  the  Word 
of  God  to  feel  assured  that  this  change 
is  but  a  continuation  of  a  noble  life,  his 
death  but  a  resurrection  from  the  material 
body,  which  is  only  a  temporary  vesture, 
but  essential  to  the  beginning  of  his  ex- 
istence. Death  to  him  was  only  a  tran- 
sition of  the  real  man  from  one  world  to 
another  of  an  entirely  distinct  nature, 
effected  simply  by  divesting  the  spirit  of 
the  material  body,  where  his  spiritual 
senses  are  opened  and  he  comes  into  dis- 
tinct conscious  relations  to  the  spiritual 
n 


162  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

world  and  to  spiritual  beings  like  him- 
self. Who  of  his  friends  who  knew  and 
loved  him  can  think  of  Eochester  Ford  as 
being  in  the  grave?  One  could  as  easily 
look  to  earth  for  a  star.  The  mention 
of  his  very  name  lifts  our  thoughts  to 
heaven  where  we  feel  sure  he  is. 

He  believed  with  all  his  soul  in  the 
Sacred  Scriptures  which  teach  us  both  by 
logical  inference  and  positive  precept  that 
heaven  is  a  better  world  than  this.  Its 
joys  and  sources  of  happiness  so  great 
and  abundant  as  that  they  surpass  human 
imagination.  Thus  we  think  of  him  as 
having  entered  into  that  home  prepared 
for  him  where  his  joys  are  multiplied  and 
his  inmost  being  filled  with  peace ;  as 
being  more  clearly  and  intimately  in  the 
presence  of  the  Lord  and  the  Angels  than 
his  most  ardent  prayers,  while  in  the  body 
could  possibly  lift  him. 

He  has  escaped  from  a  world  of  material 
limitation  and  physical  imperfections  and 


A   SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.  163 

gained  entrance  to  one  in  which  all  the 
conditions  of  his  life  are  perfect. 

The  purpose  of  the  Lord's  love  to  us 
could  not  be  carried  out  without  natural 
death.  Our  Lord  says:  — 

"Verily,  verily  I  say  unto  you  except 
a  corn  of  wheat  fall  into  the  ground  and 
die,  it  abideth  alone;  but  if  it  die,  it 
bringeth  forth  much  fruit."  It  is  thus, 
according  to  the  same  law,  and  for  the 
same  end,  the  material  body  dies  and  its 
death  is  just  as  necessary  to  the  full  de- 
velopment and  perfection  of  man's  life 
as  the  death  of  the  leaf  and  blossom  is  to 
the  grain  ;  as  the  death  of  the  corn  of 
wheat  is  to  the  reproduction  and  perpet- 
uity of  the  plant.  We  know  that 
Rochester  Ford  believed  this,  and  that 
when  a  man's  best  uses  were  performed 
in  this  world  he  passed  on  to  a  higher 
and  nobler  activity.  Thus  we  most 
firmly  believe  that  he  has  realized  the 
promises  in  which  he  trusted  and  upon 
which  he  based  his  life  work  to  the  last, 


164  EOCHESTER   FORD. 

desiring  only  "  to  serve  his  generation 
and  then  fall  asleep,"  to  "  awaken  in  His 
likeness." 

Parting  with  friends  is  temporary  death, 
As  all  death  is.     We  see  no  mor«  their  faces, 
Nor  hear  their  voices,  save in  memory: 
But  messages  of  love  give  us  assurance 
That  we  are  not  forgotten.    Who  shall  say 
That  from  the  world  of  spirits  comes  no  greeting, 
No  message  of  remembrance?    It  may  be 
The  thoughts  that  visit  us,  we  know  not  whence, 
Sudden  as  inspiration,  are  the  whispers 
Of  disembodied  spirits,  speaking  to  us 
As  friends,  who  wait  outside  a  prison  wall, 
Through  the  barred  windows  speak  to  those  within? 

—  Michael  Angela. 

MRS.  C.  E.  REIFSNIDER. 


DR.      T.      T.     EATON,      EDITOR      WESTERN 
RECORDER,  LOUISVILLE,  KY. 

My  DEAR  DR.  FORD  : 

We  were  greatly  shocked  and  pained 
to  hear  of  the  death  of  your  gifted  and 
noble  son,  and  we  most  deeply  sympa- 
thize with  you  and  Mrs.  Ford  in  your 
sore  bereavement.  I  speak  of  it  in  this 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  165 

week's  Recorder.  While  my  personal 
acquaintance  with  him  was  slight,  I  ad- 
mired him  greatly,  and  deeply  lament 
his  death.  The  comfort  from  God's 
promises  yon  and  Mrs.  Ford  have  so 
often  ministered  to  others,  comes  now  to 
your  hearts  in  all  itn  richness  and  power. 
We  never  read  God's  promises  aright  till 
we  read  them  through  our  tears. 

Mrs.  Eaton  wishes  to  be  especially  re- 
membered to  you  and  Mrs.  Ford,  and 
joins  me  in  sympathizing  with  your 
sorrow. 

Fraternally  yours, 

T.  T.  EATON. 


REV.  AND   MRS.   QEO.   KLINE,    PASADENA, 
CAL. 

82  S.  MARENQA  AVE., 

Sept.  2,  1903. 
DR.  AND  MRS.  S.  H.  FORD  : 

VERY  DEAR  BROTHER  AND  SISTER  — 
The     Central     Baptist  presenting    the 


166  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

fine  face  of  your  son  Rochester,  and  an- 
nouncing1 his  death,  came  to  us  a  few 
days  ago.  What  a  splendid  specimen 
of  Christian  manhood  he  was  !  And  on 
how  many  lives  he  must  have  made  an 
an  abiding  impression  of  the  transform- 
ing value  of  the  Christian  religion.  Like 
Enoch  he  walked  with  God.  Though 
departed  to  be  with  Christ,  his  influence 
still  is  present  in  the  world. 

I  want  to  assure  you  of  our  deepest 
sympathy  with  you  in  your  sense  of  loss. 
But  his  perfect  Comforter  is  yours.  I 
wish  you  might  give  to  the  world  by 
your  pens,  such  phases  of  his  beautiful 
life  as  interest  you,  and  will  be  sure  to 
stimulate  young  men  in  general  and 
bright  Baptist  young  men  in  particular, 
who  wish  to  work  to  make  their  lives 
tell  for  the  highest  interests  of  their  fel- 
low-men as  well  as  the  glory  of  Grod. 


A   SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.  167 


REV.  G.  P.  BOSTICK,  PO  CHOW  AN  HEVEI, 
CHINA. 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER  AND  SISTER  IN  THE 

LORD: 

I  have  just  a  few  minutes  ago  read  in 
Central  Baptist  of  the  20th  of  August, 
the  account  of  the  death  of  your  dear  son, 
Eochester,  and  I  wish  to  extend  to  you 
all  the  deep  and  sincere  sympathy  of  my 
own  still  bleeding  heart  in  this  hour  of 
bereavement.  What  an  honor  to  you 
dear  parents  to  have  by  God's  grace, 
trained  such  a  son !  Surely  his  life, 
though  cut  off  so  early,  was  not  in  vain. 
I  remember  only  a  brief  meeting  with  him 
while  on  a  visit  to  your  home  in  1897,  and 
how  very  kind  he  was  —  as  kind  as  an  own 
brother  could  have  been.  In  two  deep 
sorrows  through  which  God  has  called  me 
to  pass  duringmy  fourteen  years  in  China, 
such  marvelous  passages  as  2  Cor.  1 :  3-7 
have  been  greatly  blessed  to  me. 

How  rapidly  our  home  over  yonder  is 


168  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

filling  up  with  those  whom  we  "  have 
loved  and  lost  awhile."  How  numerous 
will  be  the  host  to  greet  you  two  who 
have  been  so  faithful  through  such  a  long 
life! 

REV.  J.  B.  THOMAS  (HIS   FORMER   PAS- 
TOR), FALLBROOK,  CAL. 

MY  DEAR  MRS.  FORD  : 

We  have  just  received  a  letter  from 
Mr.  Walker,  of  Tucson,  and  he  tells  us 
that  our  friend  we  loved  so  much  has 
given  up  his  long  struggle  with  pain  and 
bodily  weakness.  We  are  shocked, 
though  that  has  come  which  we  often 
feared  would  happen.  What  a  combina- 
tion of  weak  body  and  strong  soul  he 
was  !  How  he  took  hold  of  us  !  I  think 
I  have  admired  no  other  man  as  I  did  him. 
But  he  not  only  made  us  admire  him,  but 
love  him. 

The  best  thing  about  my  four  years' 
stay  in  Tucson  is  that  I  learned  so  much 


A   SUCCESSFUL    LAWYER.  169 

from  Kochester  Ford.  We  never  expect 
to  find  another  just  such  friend  as  he  was 
to  us.  His  interest  in  that  little  Baptist 
church  in  Tucson  must  create  an  inspira- 
tion to  its  every  member.  I  look  upon 
the  four  years  of  intimate  association  with 
him  as  one  of  the  important  events  of  my 
life ;  the  whole  of  the  four  years  is  like 
the  memory  of  a  delightful  fragrance. 

REV.  LEWIS  HALSEY,  D.  D.,  PHOENIX, 
ARIZONA. 

MRS.  S.  E.  FORD  : 

MY  DEAR  FRIEND  —  May  our  heavenly 
Father  sustain  and  comfort  you  !  Your 
noble  son  was  one  who  so  impressed  his 
character  upon  me  that  it  seems  as  if  I 
could  see  him  and  hear  him  speak.  I 
shall  miss  Mr.  Ford,  as  we  all  will,  and 
the  work  will  miss  him.  I  saw  him  last 
in  the  Hotel  Adams  here,  and  had  a  long 
talk  with  him.  He  was  always  so  helpful. 


170        ROCHESTER  FORD. 

A.  M.  FULFORD,  ESQ.,  BEL  AIR,  MARY- 
LAND. 

MRS.  S.  E.  FORD, 

Jennings,  Mo. : 

MY  DEAR  MRS.  FORD  —  Although  in 
a  measure  prepared  for  it,  it  was  with 
considerable  surprise  and  great  regret  I 
learned  of  the  death  of  your  noble  son. 
Such  events  seem  always  to  come  upon 
us  suddenly,  even  when  anticipated. 

Rochester  had  many  fine  traits  of 
character  and  I  feel  sure  was  one  of  the 
very  best  of  sons  to  you.  As  our  ties 
loosen  here  they  strengthen  on  the  other 
side  and  make  us  more  ready  to  go  when 
our  time  comes. 

MR.  SYDNEY  K.  SMITH,  LOUISVILLE, 
KENTUCKY. 

DEAR  DOCTOR: 

I  did  not  learn  till  this  morning  of 
Rochester's  death.  Though  I  knew  he 
had  been  in  feeble  health  for  some  time, 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  171 

I  was  not  aware  that  he  was  in  any  im- 
mediate danger,  and  the  suddenness  of 
his  death  came  as  a  shock  to  me.  I 
could  scarcely  have  felt  it  more  if  he  had 
been  my  own  brother,  such  were  our  re- 
lations, and  such  my  love  and  admira- 
tion for  him  as  a  man.  Above  his 
splendid  abilities  and  attainments,  shone 
the  great  purity  of  his  life,  and  his  beau- 
tiful Christian  character,  to  be  valued 
more  by  far,  in  my  estimation,  than  all 
earthly  possessions.  As  I  watched  with 
interest  his  career,  and  rejoiced  with  you 
in  his  success,  so  now  I  mourn  with 
you  his  loss.  For  such  it  was  (though 
his  gain)  not  only  to  his  family  and 
friends,  but  to  the  church  and  to  the 
community. 

MRS.  BEN  MAY  LEE,  KENT,  LONDON. 

MY  DEAR  FRIENDS  : 

I  have  just  learned  of  your  great  sor- 
row in  the  loss  of  your  great  and  good 


172  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

son  Rochester.  1  know  what  he  was, 
and  what  a  stay  and  comfort  he  was  to 
you.  My  heart  goes  out  to  you  in  sym- 
pathy which  I  have  not  words  to  express. 

JAMES  L.  APPLEGATE,    KBYTES  VILLE,  MO. 

I  am  glad  to  bear  tribute  to  the  mem- 
ory of  one  whom  I  esteemed  so  highly 
and  loved  so  dearly.  I  became  ac- 
quainted with  Rochester  soon  after  I 
united  with  the  Third  Church  in  Febru- 
ary, 1876,  and  although  there  was  so 
much  difference  in  our  ages,  our  friend- 
ship and  intimacy  grew  as  the  years  passed 
and  I  felt  honored  in  having  his  love  and 
confidence  as  he  certainly  had  mine  in  a 
large  degree.  He  was  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  young  men  I  ever  met,  so 
genial  and  friendly  and  so  pious  and 
sensible  in  all  of  the  walks  of  life.  He 
was  a  charming  companion  and  always  a 
welcome  guest  at  my  house.  His  Chris- 
tian life  was  beautiful  and  I  thank  God 
for  having  known  him  so  long  and  inti- 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  173 

mately  and  expect  to  meet  him  on   that 
beautiful  shore  when  the  final  call  comes. 


MBS.  T.  J.  CRAWFORD,  TAI-AN-FU,  CHINA. 

MY  DEAR  SISTER  : 

When  I  saw  in  the  Central  Baptist  a 
notice  of  the  death  of  your  beloved  son 
Rochester  my  heart  went  out  in  deepest 
sympathy.  I  knew  how  you  loved  your 
precious  son  and  how  worthy  he  wa&of 
the  highest  love  and  admiration.  Your 
son  was  a  model  of  all  that  is  admirable, 
good,  estimable,  both  as  a  man  and  as  a 
Christian.  I  know  that  you  and  dear 
Dr.  Ford  can  say  "  all  is  well"  and 
Rochester  gone  before  can  see  as  we  can 
not  see —  "  all  is  well." 

PROF.  F.  M.  WALKER,  SUPERINTENDENT 
OF  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS,  TUCSON,  ARIZ. 

DEAR  MRS.  FORD  : 

Yesterday  I  received  the   sad   intelli- 


174  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

gence  of  the  death  of  your  loving  son 
and  my  very  dear  friend.  Although 
none  of  us  were  greatly  surprised  we 
were  nevertheless  very  greatly  shocked, 
as  the  last  word  that  we  had  before  his 
death  said  that  he  was  feeling  better 
and  gaining  in  weight. 

Mr.  Ford  was  one  of  the  first  men  that 
I  met  when  coming  to  Tucson  three  and 
a  half  years  ago.  I  knew  him  intimately 
from  then  until  his  death,  and  I  can  say 
truthfully  that  I  never  knew  any  man 
with  a  nobler  mind  and  a  purer  heart 
than  he.  In  my  relations  with  him  in 
the  church  he  was  the  perfect  embodi- 
ment of  a  Christian  gentleman.  Broad- 
minded,  deeply  spiritual,  charitable,  zeal- 
ous and  with  an  abiding  and  unfaltering 
faith  in  Christ,  few  men  ever  walked 
more  closely  and  more  faithfully  by  the 
Master's  side  than  he. 

The  church  asks  me  as  its  clerk  to 
convey  to  the  sorrowing  ones  of  his 
family,  their  sincerest  and  deepest  eym- 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  175 

pathy  in  this  your  greatest  affliction. 
Your  loss  is  also  our  loss.  We  all  loved 
him  as  a  brother  and  as  a  friend,  and  we 
feel  more  deeply  than  we  have  words  to 
express  the  great  loss  which  we  have 
suffered.  His  place  among  us  can  never 
be  filled.  He  was  our  leader,  our  coun- 
sellor, our  helper  and  our  guide  and 
though  his  life  and  influence  shall  always 
remain  a  guiding  star  to  our  spiritual  and 
mental  uplifting  in  Christ,  our  loss  is  irre- 
parable and  our  only  consolation  is  that 
his  sufferings  are  no  more ;  he  now  dwells 
with  Christ  in  the  house  not  made  with 
hands  and  through  God's  mercy  we  shall 
know  him  there. 

Very  sincerely, 

F.  M.  WALKER. 


REV.     LANSING     BURROWS,     D.  B.,    LL.D., 

NASHVILLE,  TENN. 

MY  DEAR  COUSIN  : 

I  had  been  on  the  point  of  writing  you 


176  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

for  several  days  when  your  letter,  telling 
me  of  Rochester's  death,  came. 

My  own  heart  wound  has  not  even  be- 
gun to  heal  and  I  am  so  selfish  that  when 
I  hear  of  the  distress  of  another  I  find 
myself  moaning  over  my  own  bereave- 
ment and  awake  to  chide  myself  for  my 
self-concern.  Perhaps  it  is  because  in 
advanced  years  we  have  lost  the  resili- 
ency of  younger  days  and  cannot  recover. 
It  must  be  so  with  you  and  the  Doctor, 
to  both  of  whom  the  loss  is  simply  irre- 
parable, and  there  will  be  no  day  without 
its  shadow  eclipsing  the  blessed  sunlight. 
I  find  myself  homesick  for  heaven,  and 
yet  I  go  on  trying  at  this  late  day  to  find 
"  the  patience  and  comfort  of  the  Scrip- 
tures "  by  which  Paul  says  I  am  to  obtain 
hope. 

REV.    I.  J.  VAN  NESS,  SEO'Y   8.  S.   BOARD, 


NASHVILLE,  TENN. 


DEAR  BRO.  AND  SISTER  FORD  : 

I  do  sincerely  sympathize  with  you  in 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  177 

your  great  affliction.  I  was  greatly  in- 
terested in  the  sketch  of  your  son  in  the 
Central  Baptist,  and  I  am  sure  he  must 
have  been  an  exceptional  young  man.  I 
do  not  need  to  offer  you  any  words  of 
comfort  more  than  to  say  to  you  that  you 
have  been  in  my  mind  and  have  had  my 
sympathy  during  these  days. 
Yours  sincerely, 

ISAAC  J.  VAN  NESS. 

MR.  HERNDON  ELY,  CASHIER  OF  CAR- 
ROLLTON  EXCHANGE  BANK,  CARROLL- 
TON,  MO. 

DEAR  MRS.  FORD  : 

A  letter  from  Mr.  B  re  water  Cameron, 
and  the  Central,  received  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  20th  was  the  first  informa- 
tion I  had  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Ford. 
I  cannot  tell  you  how  deepl}7  grieved  I 
am  at  this  death.  I  esteemed  Mr.  Ford 
very  highly,  and  was  proud  to  call  him 
my  friend.  He  has  not  lived  in  vain. 

12 


178  ROCHESTER    FORD. 

His  influence  in  Tucson  will  be  long-lived. 
He  was  beyond  question  the  most  influ- 
ential and  most  highly  respected  citizen 
of  Tucson.  I  have  often  said  of 
Rochester  Ford,  that  if  his  physique 
were  equal  to  his  heart  and  brain,  there 
would  be  nothing  out  of  his  reach. 

COL.  O'BRIEN  MOORE,  EDITOR  "  THE  CITI- 
ZEN," TUCSON,  ARIZONA. 

MY  DEAR  MRS.  FORD  : 

The  death  of  your  son  was  an  awful 
shock  to  me.  I  had  grown  not  only  to 
admire  but  to  love  him.  Although  of 
different  temperaments  and  habits,  we 
were  almost  as  one  in  political  beliefs ; 
and  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  local 
government  we  never  had  a  difference. 
He  was  the  only  man  in  Tucson  whose 
advice  I  frequently  sought  and  whose 
opinion  I  always  respected.  His  death 
deprived  me  of  my  nearest  friend  here, 
and  I  can  sincerely  condole  with  you 
and  his  father  in  your  great  sorrow. 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  179 

E.    W.     STEPHENS,     EDITOR     OF     THE     CO- 
LUMBIA  HERALD,    COLUMBIA,    MO. 

DR.  AND  MRS.  S.  H.  FORD: 

MY  DEAR  FRIENDS —  On  my  way  home 
from  California  I  heard  of  your  great 
bereavement  and  I  hasten  upon  my  return 
to  tender  you  my  sincere  sympathy.  You 
have  the  great  consolation  of  knowing 
your  son  was  a  noble  and  successful  man 
and  best  of  all  that  he  died  in  the  hope 
and  with  the  assurance  of  eternal  life. 

MRS.  E.  C.  MAYFIELD,  MAYFIELD   SANI- 
TARIUM, ST.  LOUIS. 

DEAR  BRO.  AND  SISTER  FORD: 

How  our  hearts  go  out  to  you  both  in 
this  great  sorrow.  We  know  just  what 
you  have  given  up.  Oh,  how  he  loved 
you  !  He  was  truly  all  that  a  dear  noble 
son  could  have  been  to  a  father  and 
mother.  His  love  and  devotion  to  you 
was  like  unto  that  of  our  own  precious 
boy,  and  we  know  what  all  this  means ; 


180  ROCHESTER    FORD. 

and  while  we  love  them  so  dearly,  God 
loved  thorn  even  more  than  we,  and  has 
seen  fit  to  take  them  unto  Himself.  I 
have  been  thinking*  this  morning  of  what 
heaven  is  to  Rochester.  It  is  your  loss 
and  his  great  gain.  Heaven  is  so  much 
nearer  and  dearer  to  us  now.  Dr.  May- 
field  left  the  city  Thursday  evening  to 
spend  a  day  or  two  at  Sweet  Springs.  I 
am  so  sorry  that  we  could  not  have  been 
with  you  to-day.  May  God  graciously 
bless  and  comfort  you,  as  He  alone  can. 
The  entire  household  join  me  in  love  and 
sympathy  for  you  all. 

DR.  WALTER  G.  TYZZER,    MAYFIELD  SANI- 
TARIUM, ST.  LOUIS,  MO. 

REV.  AND  MRS.  S.  H.  FORD: 

I  wish  to  express  my  sincerest  regret 
that  I  could  not  be  with  you  and  sing  at 
dear  Rochester's  funeral,  but  as  I  was  at 
the  bedside  of  a  dying  man,  I  found  it 
impossible  to  make  the  eleven  o'clock 
train. 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  181 

I  wish  to  express  for  Mrs.  Tyzzer 
and  myself  our  profoundest  sympathy  in 
this  great  sorrow.  Few  men  accomplish 
more  in  life  than  did  your  dear  son,  the 
sweet  influence  of  which  shall  be  felt  in 
the  lives  of  others  to  the  end  of  time. 
May  the  Holy  Spirit  comfort  your  be- 
reaved hearts  is  my  earnest  prayer. 

REV.  B.  F.  LAWLER,  TRINIDAD,  COL. 

DEAR  BRO.  AND  SISTER  FORD  : 

It  is  with  hesitancy  I  venture  into  the 
sacredness  of  your  recent  great  sorrow 
in  the  death  of  your  son,  the  late  Roches- 
ter Ford  of  Tucson,  Arizona. 

The  last  time  I  remember  to  have  seen 
him  was  at  Liberty,  Mo.,  sitting  at  a 
stenographer's  table  reporting  Dr.  Broad- 
us'  great  sermon  to  ministerial  students, 
I  think  in  1881.  I  was  pleased  to  read 
his  accurate  and  full  report.  I  was 
never  familiarly  acquainted  with  him,  but 
to  know  of  him  and  to  have  great  and 
special  regard  for  his  piety  and  talent. 


182  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

I  think  I  am  in  some  degree  capable  of 
knowing  your  feelings,  for  indeed  my 
own  first-born  son  sleeps  'neath  a  great 
willow  I  planted  by  his  grave  many  years 
ago. 

I  know  you  have  already  the  comfort 
of  Him  who  comforts  as  one  whom  his 
mother  cornforteth,  and  can  but  offer  this 
word  of  consolation  —  the  Lord  loveth 
whom  He  chasteneth. 


REV.  J.  M.  FROST,  D.  D.,  COR.  SEC.  OF 
S.  S.  BOARD  OF  SOUTHERN  BAPTIST 
CONVENTION,  NASHVILLE,  TENN. 

DEAR  DR.  FORD: 

I  understand  that  you  are  to  issue  a 
memorial  volume  in  honor  of  your  noble 
son,  Eochester.  I  am  glad  you  are  to  do 
this.  My  heart  has  been  greatly  with 
you  and  your  family  in  the  deep  grief 
and  sorrow  through  which  you  have 
passed  in  the  sad  affliction  which  has 
come  to  you.  It  is  truly  a  praiseworthy 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  183 

thing  to  set  out  before  the  world  a  career 
such  as  your  son  wrought  out  during 
his  young  manhood.  Certainly  it  is  a 
great  comfort  to  his  parents  that  he 
should  have  attained  a  station  so  high 
and  altogether  honorable.  There  is  no 
greater  joy  that  can  come  to  parents 
than  the  riches  and  ripeness  of  the  char- 
acter of  their  children.  It  was  not  my 
privilege  to  have  acquaintance  with  your 
son.  I  have  always  connected  him  with 
a  little  incident  related  to  me  by  Dr. 
John  A.  Broadus.  You  will  recall  per- 
haps the  time  that  Dr.  Broadus  preached 
his  great  sermon  at  the  Southern  Bap- 
tist Convention  on  the  Inspiration  of  the 
Scriptures.  As  his  custom  was  he  had 
brought  simply  notes  and  did  not  have 
the  manuscript  of  the  sermon.  In  com- 
ing to  write  it  out  for  the  press,  he 
found  it  difficult  to  reproduce  it  but  in 
conversation  with  me  he  told  how  the 
stenographic  report  which  your  son  had 
made  rendered  him  the  greatest  of  service 


184  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

as  he  had  made  his  report  with  remarka- 
ble precision,  and  so  far  as  possible  had 
caught  his  very  spirit.  He  counted  it 
one  of  the  finest  reports  he  had  ever 
seen  of  a  public  address.  I  have  often 
thought  of  this  and  connected  it  with 
your  son,  and  thought  perhaps  it  might 
be  a  source  of  gratification  to  you  and 
the  family  to  know  of  it. 

DR.   W.  S.  RYLAND,  RUSSELLVILLE,  KY. 

REV.  S.  H.  FORD,  D.D.: 

MY  VENERABLE  AND  DEAR  BROTHER — 
I  am  tardy  in  writing,  partly  because  I 
have  been  away,  and  partly  because  I  felt 
quite  unequal  to  the  task  of  attempting  to 
comfort  you  in  your  great  sorrow.  You 
know  better,  I  am  sure,  both  to  seek  and 
give  solace  to  wounded  spirits.  "  God 
doeth  wondrous  things,"  always  and  is  in 
no  haste  to  explain  Himself.  But  He 
can  sustain  and  solace  as  wondrously  as 
He  afflicts. 

Such   a  son  as  yours  it  is  hard  indeed 


A    SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  185 

to  surrender.  So  precious  to  you,  his 
parents.  So  dear  to  many.  So  promis- 
ing. Worth  already  so  much  to  the 
world.  So  fit  for  work  in  the  Master's 
cause,  where  such  men  are  so  much 
needed.  Why  could  he  not  be  spared? 

But  you  will  know  better  reasons  than 
you  could  give,  when,  after  going  a 
little  further  you  meet  him  and  rejoice 
that  you  are  there,  not  here. 

May  the  Holy  Spirit  be  your  Comforter 
and  the  Word  of  God  your  light  in  the 
darkness,  and  many  sweet  hopes  and 
tender  memories  come  to  cheer  your  lone- 
liness. 

Your  brother  in  Christ, 

W.  S.  EYLAND. 

MR.    C.  A.    CALDWELL,    ALTON   NATIONAL 
BANK. 

DEAR  MRS,  FORD  : 

I  must  take  this  opportunity  to  express 
to  you  and  your  husband,  rny  sympathy 


186  ROCHESTER  FORD. 

for  you  in  the  great  bereavement  and 
loss  which  has  come  to  you.  The  notice 
came  as  a  great  surprise  to  me,  as  I  had 
not  heard  that  your  son  was  unusually 
ill, 

I  shall  always  remember  his  kindness 
to  Mrs.  Caldwell  and  myself  when  we 
were  in  Tucson.  It  was  there  that  I 
came  to  learn  his  sterling  character  and 
worth.  I  rejoice  in  the  comfort  and  hope 
which  the  Divine  promises  afford  —  they 
are  more  real  and  precious  under  test, 
than  otherwise,  and  you  know  so  well 
how  to  appropriate  them  to  your  own 
support  and  comfort. 

Truly, 

C.  A.  CALDWELL. 

MRS.  J.  W.  TEASDALE,  ALTASONA,  CHAR- 
LEVOIX,  MICHIGAN. 

DEAR  SISTER  FORD  : 

I  feel  I  wish  to  say  a  few  words  to  you, 
yet  my  mother's  heart  aches  so  for  you, 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  187 

I  feel  my  utter  inability  to  say  anything 
to  help  you  in  your  great  sorrow. 

To  me  your  son  Rochester  was  always 
one  of  the  most  exemplary  young  men  I 
ever  knew,  an  Israelite  in  whom  was  no 
guile,  a  disciple  whom  Jesus  loved,  and 
so  bright  and  promising,  I  not  only  loved 
him  and  admired  him,  and  often  wished 
there  were  many  like  him  to  be  a  joy  to 
their  parents,  to  be  pillars  in  the  church 
of  God,  that  the  world  might  see  in  our 
religion  something  to  be  desired,  some- 
thing to  manifest  in  life  as  well  as  to  be 
enjoyed  in  heaven. 

Your  dear  son's  life  was  not  long,  but 
I  doubt  not  he  did  more  for  Christ  than 
very,  very  many  Christians  do  in  a  long 
life. 

Now  he  has  heard  the  welcome  words, 
"  well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant, 
enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  our  Lord." 
What  joy,  what  glory,  what  peace,  what 
companionship  are  his  !  Who  could  wish 
him  back  to  this  world  of  sorrow  and 


188  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

suffering,  this  sea  of  unrest ;  not  even 
you,  and  yet  your  mother  heart  must 
be  lonely  and  breaking.  I  know  it,  I 
feel  it,  and  the  tears  will  come,  but  not 
for  him,  —  but  for  you  and  the  doctor 
my  heart  aches. 

MRS.  T.  J.  AKINS,  HUMANSVILLE,  MO. 

MY  DEAR  COUSEST  : 

For  want  of  words,  I  have  forborne  to 
telegraph  condolence  on  the  death  of 
your  loved  son.  While  looking  over  the 
paper  Sunday  morning  the  notice  of  his 
departure  met  my  eye.  My  impulse  was 
to  go  to  you  immediately.  While  we 
knew  cousin  Rochester  was  in  delicate 
health  we  hoped  —  yes,  believed  that  God 
would  spare  this  noble  man  to  his  family, 
his  friends,  the  world.  I  wish  I  might 
say  something  to  comfort  you.  Zoe  and 
Marie  thought  "Cousin  Rochester  "  so 
exalted  —  so  superior  to  most  people, 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  189 

especially  in  intellect.  They  send  love. 
I  feel  I  should  be  so  pleased  to  do  some- 
thing for  you.  God  be  with  and 
strengthen  you. 

S.  L.   KING  AN,    ATTORNEY   AT   LAW,    TUC- 
SON, ARIZONA. 

MY  DEAR  MRS.  FORD  : 

Your  telegram  of  this  date,  telling  me 
of  the  death  of  your  son,  is  at  hand. 

I  knew  Mr.  Ford  for  only  a  year  and 
a  half,  but  in  that  time  I  learned  to  love 
the  man.  He  was  the  noblest  man  I  ever 
knew ;  true,  upright,  always  for  the  right, 
always  against  the  wrong,  and  with  it  all, 
he  possessed  a  fine  intellect. 

I  only  hope  that  when  my  time  comes 
to  go,  that  I  shall  be  as  well  prepared  as 
Rochester  Ford. 

A  good  and  an  able  man  has  gone  to 
his  reward.  God  bless  him. 

Sincerely, 

S.  L.  KlNGAN. 


190  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

MR.     BREWSTER      CAMERON,     WHITEHALL 

BLDG.,  BATTERY  PLACE,  N.  Y. 

MY  DEAR  MRS.  FORD: 

I  am  so  overcome  with  the  sad  news 
of  Rochester's  death  that  I  cannot  write 
you  to-day,  but  I  will  write  you  very 
soon.  O!  I  am  so  sorry.  Repossessed, 
in  such  a  great  degree,  all  the  noblest 
attributes  of  human  character.  It  was 
my  cherished  hope,  when  we  parted  at 
Tucson,  that  he  might  have  been  at  the 
meeting  at  the  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel,  for 
I  was  so  anxious,  when  he  told  me  he 
had  been  losing  ground  for  a  year  and 
was  rapidly  failing  then. 

There  is  no  consolation  to  relieve  fully 
a  sorrow  like  you  have  now  to  bear, 
but  you  have  the  consciousness  that  he 
has  come  into  the  glorious  reward  of  a 
life  filled  with  noble  deeds  well  done. 

MR.     LIONEL    JACOBS,    TUCSON,  ARIZONA. 

DR.  S.  H.  FORD: 

MY  DEAR  SIR  —  I  beg  to  tender  you 
my  assurance  of  sympathy  on  the  occa- 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  191 

sion  of  the  death  of  your  son  Rochester, 
of  which  I  was  advised  today. 

Long  and  intimate  association  with 
your  son  had  enabled  me  to  know  him 
well,  to  admire  him  for  his  many  excel- 
lencies, and  to  be  proud  of  his  friend- 
ship. His  devotion  to  the  good,  his 
courage  for  the  right,  his  charity  for  the 
suffering  and  the  oppressed,  added  to 
his  high  sense  of  morality  and  honor, 
made  him  indeed  a  man  whom  to  know 
was  to  appreciate. 

MRS.  JOE  E.  PECK  ("  WESTERN  RE- 
CORDER"), LOUISVILLE,  KY. 

MY  DEAR  FRIENDS  : 

I  must  spare  a  little  of  my  scanty  eye- 
sight this  morning  to  write  you  a  few 
words  of  sympathy.  And  yet  ought  they 
not  to  be  words  of  congratulation  as  to 
the  parents  of  a  victor? 

To  have  had  such  a  son  —  a  man  of 
such  brilliant  intellect  and  conservative 


192  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

wisdom  ;  of  such  true  piety,  of  such  love 
of  reverence  for  his  parents  —  such  a 
blessing  has  been  yours,  and  God  could 
not  have  given  you  a  greater,  except 
your  own  salvation,  and  yet  knowing  all 
this  and  being  grateful  to  God  for  it 
your  heart  cries  out  for  the  sound  of  the 
loving  voice  and  the  sight  of  the  hand- 
some face.  God  will  comfort  you. 

MRS.    HENDIE    G.     CALDWELL,     LOUIS- 


VILLE, KY. 


MY  DEAREST  COUSIN  SALLIE  : 

We  have  just  received  the  Central 
Baptist  announcing  the  going  home 
of  your  dear  son  Rochester.  Oh,  my 
dear  cousin,  how  my  heart  aches  for  you. 
I  know  that  he  was  everything  to  you. 
that  a  good,  noble,  gifted,  devoted  son 
could  be  —  how  your  heart  was  bound  up 
in  him,  what  a  tender  pride  you  felt  in 
him.  I  know  too  all  about  the  desola- 
tion you  must  feel  in  being  bereft  of  the 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  193 

idol  of  your  heart.  We  cannot  fathom 
the  great  mystery  !  We  only  know  that 
our  ways  are  in  the  hands  of  Him  who 
cannot  err,  and  that  when  our  work  here 
is  done,  "  He  giveth  his  beloved  sleep." 
Thank  God  we  do  not  sorrow  as  those 
who  have  no  hope.  What  more  could 
you  ask  than  his  last  testimony:  "My 
trust  in  Jesus  Christ  is  without  a  cloud  ;  " 
"  Death  has  to  me  no  fear."  Blessed 
assurance. 


REV.    J.  B.    MOODY,    PEWEE    VALLEY,    KY. 

DR.  S.  H.  FORD,  MY  DEAR  BROTHER  : 

I  would  express  my  condolence  in  your 
sad  bereavement.  I  have  lost  a  mother 
and  father  and  brother  and  three  chil- 
dren out  of  five,  and  my  dear  wife,  and  I 
am  sure  my  experience  makes  it  easy  for 
me  to  sympathize,  especially  for  parents 
of  your  ages  when  you  begin  to  feel  that 
you  must  lean  on  others  for  help  and 
support.  Your  loss  is  great  and  I  pray 

13 


194  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

God  to  help  you  both  to  bear  it  with 
fortitude  and  with  the  good  cheer  of 
those  who  are  "  almost  home." 


MRS.  LIZZIE  HALDEMAN,  LOUISVILLE,  KY. 

MY  DEAR  COUSIN  : 

How  my  thoughts  have  been  with  you 
in  your  deep  trial  for  I  know  what  the 
loss  of  your  dear  son  must  be  to  you.  I 
thank  God  for  his  faith  and  triumphant 
death  and  for  your  faith  which  bears  tes- 
timony to  the  sustaining  power  of  God's 
grace  as  nothing  else  can  do. 

MRS.  LIZZIE  WOODBURY,  LOUISVILLE,  KY. 

DR.  AND  MRS.  S.  H.  FORD  : 

MY  DEAR  FRIENDS — Many  hearts 
have  been  broken  by  your  sorrow.  Here 
in  Louisville  where  your  dear  son  was 
born  there  are  hundreds  who  love  you 
and  your  loss  is  theirs. 

There  never  was  any  other  mother,  any 


A   SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.  195 

other  baby  boy,  so  Mary-like  and  Christ- 
like  to  me  as  my  dear  Sunday-school 
teacher  and  her  beautiful  child.  I  loved 
Rochester  from  the  first  time  I  ever  saw 
him.  He  was  magnetic  —  a  study  to  me 
with  his  luminous  eyes  and  glorious  head. 
I  listened  to  his  first  words  and  he  was 
always  a  marvelous  being  to  me.  I  knew 
how  he  grew  to  be  the  light  of  your  home 
and  then  the  pride  and  strength  of  your 
hearts.  I  know  what  a  bright,  successful 
career  he  achieved,  and  how  he  wrote  his 
name  upon  the  highest  line  he  could  reach 
while  his  feet  were  planted  upon  the  earth. 
You  know  better  than  I  do  how  God  deals 
with  those  He  loves.  Your  thoughts  can 
reach  farther  than  mine  can  into  the  deep 
philosophies  of  this  labyrinth  of  life. 
But  I  can  come  up  and  stand  with  you 
in  the  realization  that  to  carry  forward 
the  great  purposes  of  the  eternities  God 
must  take  from  our  arms  the  great  work- 
ers he  needs  on  the  other  side.  Nothing 
can  comfort  your  hearts  as  the  thought 


196  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

that  those  strong,  tender  hands  which 
would  have  lifted  you  over  every  trial  of 
life  are  now  filling  with  beauty  the  home 
you  and  your  dear  ones  will  have  in  that 
land  where  the  many 'mansions  be. 

DR.  B.  RUBENS,    TUCSON,  ARIZONA. 

MRS.  S.  K.  FORD: 

MY  DEAR  MADAM  AND  FRIEND  — 
Please  accept  my  deepest  sympathy  in 
you  affliction  for  your  dear  son,  Rochester 
Ford. 

I  am  so  deeply  grieved ;  I  have  lost  a 
dear  and  true  friend.  But  it  is  the  will 
of  Him  who  gives  us  life  and  takes  it 
away.  The  sad  news  was  a  shock  to  all 
Tucson.  We  have  lost  a  dear  and  good 
man  who  did  many  commendable  things 
for  the  city.  He  did  for  Tucson  what  no 
other  man  has  ever  done.  He  fought 
evil  always.  He  was  ever  honorable  and 
just.  Though  physically  dead,  spiritually 
he  will  forever  live  in  our  hearts  and  mem- 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  197 

ones.     I  loved  him  like  a  brother.     He 
never  failed  to  help  those  in  want. 

KEY.  J.  T.  COOK,  LL.D.,  LA  GRANGE,  MO. 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER  AND  SISTER  FORD  : 
My  heart  goes  out  to  you  in  this  your 
great  sorrow.  What  a  grand,  noble  son 
Rochester  was,  and  how  thankful  you 
should  be  that  God  loaned  him  to  you 
forty-six  years. 

What  can  I  sa}rto  you  that  you  do  not 
know?  You  two  ripe  cultured  Christians 
know  more  of  God,  His  word  and  prom- 
ises than  I  can  know  on  earth.  I  quote  no 
promises,  you  know  them.  I  pass  no 
eulogy  on  Rochester,  for  I  can  say  noth- 
ing worthy  of  such  a  noble  character. 

REV.  J.  M.  BILLINGSLEY,  EWING,  ILLS. 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER  FORD  : 

I  notice  ;in  a  paper  just  to  hand  the 
death  of  your  son  Rochester.  How 


198  ROCHESTER   FODR. 

vividly  it  brought  to  mind  the  death  of 
my  son  —  only  son  who  went  from  us 
thirty-six  years  ago.  I  know  how  inade- 
quate language  is  to  express  the  sorrow 
of  a  bereaved  parent.  But  amid  our 
deepest  sorrow  this  glorious  consolation 
comes  that  through  the  atonement  of 
Christ  Jesus,  our  Lord,  your  son  rests 
with  Him  in  the  Paradise  of  God.  So  by 
the  grace  of  God  we  sorrow  not  as  those 
who  have  no  hope.  The  delightful 
thought  to  me  among  others  is  that  of 
the  usefulness  of  your  son  while  here 
with  us.  His  ability —  the  constant  good 
he  did,  his  devotion  to  the  cause  of  Christ 
and  the  example  left  by  him,  must  ever 
be  cherished  memories.  I  have  heard 
eulogies  passed  upon  him  as  professor  of 
law  as  well  as  the  wide  influence  he  ex- 
erted for  good.  God  bless  you  ! 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  199 


MRS.     LELIA   HERNDON    HALE,      CHICAGO, 
ILLS. 

MY  DEAR  MRS.  FORD  : 

Words  fail  me  to  express  to  you  my 
deep  sympathy,  for  no  one  knew  better 
than  I  what  you  had  in  your  son  and  how 
deep  and  tender  was  your  devotion  to 
him  and  how  well  merited  it  was.  From 
the  moment  I  first  met  him  I  admired 
him  more  than  any  young  man  I  ever 
knew,  for  I  recognized  in  a  glance  the 
noble  manhood  and  Christian  character 
he  so  pre-eminently  possessed. 

I  honored  and  looked  up  to  him  in 
every  way,  both  intellectually  and  mor- 
ally. I  grieve  with  you  and  wish  I  could 
put  my  arms  around  your  neck  and  tell 
you  all  my  heart  feels.  But  oh,  what  a 
comfort  to  have  left  behind  him  such  a 
noble  record.  So  young,  but  a  rounded 
and  Christian  life  superior  to  many  far 
older.  It  seems  to  me  the  Doctor  and 


200  ROCHESTER  FORD. 

yourself  and  May  should  find  great  com- 
fort in  the  thought  of  the  complete  suc- 
cess he  made  of  the  short  life  given  him. 
But  I  need  not  write  all  this,  you  know 
better  than  I  the  Comforter  for  all. 

MISS    MART    M' CALEB    ROCHESTER,  NASH- 
VILLE,   TENN. 

MY  DEAR  COUSIN  : 

I  have  just  read  in  the  Western 
Recorder  of  your  great  bereavement  in 
the  passing  away  of  your  dear  son, 
Cousin  Rochester.  I  realize  what  a  loss 
you  have  sustained  in  giving  up  such  a 
son  —  so  good,  so  gifted.  All  who  knew 
him  had  only  words  of  praise  for  him. 
It  has  been  many  years  since  we  met, 
but  I  shall  always  remember  his  carrying 
my  (now  sainted)  sister,  Mrs.  Burrows, 
so  tenderly  and  yet  so  bravely  in  his 
arms.  He  was  then  so  young. 

You  had  everything  to  be  thankful  for 
in  him  —  a  gifted,  consecrated  son,  al- 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  201 

ways  doing  good  as  opportunity  offered, 
dutiful  and  kind  always. 

ME.  ST.  E.  PLUMER,  PRESDT.  SOUTHERN 
ARIZONA  BANK  &  TRUST  CO.,  TUCSON, 
ARIZONA. 

MY  DEAR  MRS.  FORD  : 

Your  son  was  one  of  our  most  beloved 
citizens,  a  very  dear  friend  and  business 
associate  of  mine,  and  we  all  have  sus- 
tained a  great  loss.  So  far  as  is  in  my 
power  I  will  be  very  glad  to  render  you 
every  assistance  in  settling  up  his  affairs. 

Assuring  you  of  my  deepest  sympa- 
thy in  this,  your  hour  of  bereavement, 
I  am  yours  truly. 

REV.  T.  C.  CARLETON,  PASTOR  OF  LA- 
FAYETTE PARK  BAPTIST  CHURCH,  ST. 
LOUIS. 

DOCTOR  AND  MRS.  S.  H.  FORD: 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER  AND  SISTER  — 
You  have  both  been  much  in  my  thought 


202  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

the  last  few  days.  I  wanted  very  much 
to  be  present  last  Saturday  at  the  funeral 
services  of  your  dear  son,  Rochester. 
Your  loss  is  great :  no  human  estimate 
can  tell  how  great,  but  that  means,  also, 
that  your  gain  has  been  great  in  the 
grand,  noble  life  which  Rochester  has 
given  to  you  and  to  the  world,  so  that 
while  your  hearts  are  broken  over  the  loss 
you  have  sustained,  your  lives  have  been 
made  rich  in  the  heritage  of  his  splendid 
life.  I  regret  very  much  that  I  never 
knew  him  personally,  and  yet  I  feel  as  if 
I  had  known  him  all  my  life,  because  I 
have  heard  so  much  that  is  good  and 
noble  about  him.  To  have  given  such  a 
son  to  the  world  and  to  God  surely  an- 
swers the  question  :  "  Is  life  worth  liv- 
ing," and  his  own  true,  noble  life  is  a 
brilliant  and  conclusive  answer  to  that 
same  question.  Though  he  was  taken 
away  in  middle  life,  what  a  blessing  it 
was  that  he  did  not  wait  till  middle  life 
or  old  age  to  give  God  his  heart  and  his 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  203 

services,  and  what  a  blessing  it  was  to 
have  woven  his  virtues  into  the  warp  and 
woof  of  the  home  life,  parents,  brothers 
and  sister,  and  in  the  life  of  the  churches 
where  he  has  lived.  His  deeds  and  words 
and  exalted  life  will  be  a  fragrant  mem- 
ory, making  bright  and  sweet  all  the 
coming  years,  and  making  the  home- 
coming more  delightful  because  he  has 
gone  before.  Earth  has  been  richer  and 
better  because  of  his  life,  and  now  he  has 
been  promoted  to  a  higher  service  and 
a  more  unalloyed  pleasure.  While  you 
shall  miss  his  loving  attentions  and  prac- 
tical service,  you  will  be  comforted  in 
the  thought  that  your  own  dear  boy  has 
been  called  to  a  higher  service  for  the 
dear  Savior  Himself,  through  whose 
precious  blood  we  are  made  fit  for  life  on 
earth  and  reigning  in  heaven.  Heaven 
is  not  far  away,  and  Jesus  is  nearer  still. 
God  is  good,  and  His  grace  is  sufficient 
for  us.  What  a  sweet  and  blessed  thing 
it  is  to  be  a  Christian ! 


204  ROCHESTER   FORD. 


REV.  AND  MRS.  RAY  C.  PALMER, 
CHILLICOTHE,  MO. 

MY  BELOVED  BROTHER  AND  SISTER: 

How  dreadfully  pained  we  were  to  see 
the  account  of  the  death  of  your  dearly 
beloved  son,  Rochester  Ford.  How 
strange  sometimes  seem  the  providences 
of  God.  What  a  great  and  good  son 
you  had  !  Every  such  dispensation  of 
providence  speaks  of  that  blessed  life  be- 
yond where  a  mind  so  brilliant,  a  soul  so 
grand,  may  have  the  fullest  possible  op- 
portunity for  endless  development. 

Surely  our  prayers  shall  be  that  you 

may  realize  the  eternal  God  is  thy  refuge 

and  underneath  are  the  everlasting  arms. 

God  grant  we   all    may    attain    that 

purest  heaven,  to  be  to  other  souls 

"  The  cup  of  strength  in  some  great  agony, 
Then  shall  we  join  the  choir  invisible, 
Where  music  is  the  gladness  of  the  world." 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  205 


MRS.  W.  F.  ELLIOT,  MOBERLY,  MO. 

DR.  AND  MRS.  S.  H.  FORD  : 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER  AND  SISTER  —  I 
have  just  read  in  the  Central  Baptist 
the  news  of  the  home-going  of  your  son 
Eochester,  and  I  write  to  assure  yon  of 
my  sympathy.  What  a  blessed  thing  to 
be  the  parents  of  so  noble  a  son,  and 
what  a  blessed  memory  you  have  to 
alleviate  your  grief  at  his  loss.  I  did 
not  know  your  son  except  as  a  passing 
acquaintance,  but  I  never  heard  a  word 
spoken  of  him  except  in  commendation 
and  praise  of  his  talents  and  attainments 
and  his  pure  devoted  Christian  life.  My 
dear  husband  admired  him  greatly. 

In  the  blessed  hope  of  the  coming  of 
our  Lord  when  the  dead  in  Him  shall 
rise  to  meet  Him  in  immortal  strength 
and  beauty,  I  am,  with  loving  sympathy, 
your  friend  and  sister. 


206  ROCHESTER   FORD. 


DR.  AND  MRS.  SKILLMAN,  COLUMBIA,  MO. 

DEAR  DR.  FORD: 

We  have  just  read  of  the  death  of 
your  son,  Rochester;  we  wish  to  express 
our  heartfelt  sympathy  for  yourself  and 
family  in  this  hour  of  bereavement.  I  am 
glad  that  your  son  was  a  noble  Christian 
man  —  and  that  the  good  life  he  lived  is 
a  great  source  of  comfort  to  you  now. 
We  are  glad  that  you  know  the  source 
of  all  comfort  in  the  times  of  sorrow, 
we  are  glad  that  you  had  him  with  you 
and  that  you  could  nurse  him  in  his  last 
sickness.  It  will  not  be  very  long  until 
you  will  see  him  again  in  a  clearer  light 
than  this  poor  befogged  earth  affords. 
May  the  blessing  of  the  Lord  be  upon  you 
and  yours.  Most  affectionately  yours. 

MRS.  DOCTOR  ROBARTS,  MAPLEWOOD,  MO. 

I   see  in  the  evening  paper  that  your 
dear   son  Rochester  has  passed  over  the 


A   SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.  207 

river.  I  am  shocked.  I  did  not  know 
he  was  so  ill.  Rochester  was  such  an 
exemplary  young  man  we  would  think  of 
him  as  only  at  rest  —  free  from  his  long 
suffering.  You  know  where  you  can 
find  comfort. 

You  feel  assured  that  he  is  with   the 
Lord. 


MRS.     L.     B.     STEVENS,     NORTHBRIDGE 
CENTRE,  MASSACHUSETTS. 

DR.  AND  MRS.  FORD  : 

OUR  DEAR  FRIENDS  —  How  beautiful 
is  the  home-going  of  the  Christian.  As 
you  dwell  upon  your  son  Rochester's 
beautiful  life  and  bright  unshaken  faith, 
I  am  sure  much  of  the  sting  of  death  — 
the  trial  of  parting  —  must  be  taken 
away. 

God's  way  is  sure  to  be  best,  and  we 
want  our  will  swallowed  up  in  His.  To 
see  a  son  leave  this  world  without  a  doubt 
or  a  fear  must  call  forth  songs  of  thanks- 


208  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

giving,  and  it  seems  to  me  instead  of 
weeping  with  you  I  should  rejoice  with 
you  that  your  dear  son  is  at  home. 


LOCKSLEY  HALL,  CHAIN  O'LAKES,  WAU- 
POCA,  WISCONSIN. 

DR.  AND  MRS.  FORD  : 

DEAR  FRIENDS  —  The  sad  news  of 
your  son's  death  has  reached  me  away  up 
here  in  Wisconsin.  It  is  needless  to  say 
that  it  was  a  great  shock,  as  I  had  sup- 
posed he  was  in  comparative  good  health, 
especially  as  long  as  he  remained  in  Ari- 
zona. 

It  is  impossible  for  me  to  say  more, 
than  to  convey  to  you  and  your  family 
our  sincere  sympathy  and  love,  in  this 
time  of  your  sorrow  over  the  present  sep- 
aration from  your  loved  one. 

Sincerely  yours, 
EMMA  JOHNSON  FORBES, 
4319  Delniar  Av.,  St.  Louis. 


A    SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  209 


REV.      R.     M.    INLOW,     FIELD     SECRETARY 

S.  S.  BOARD,  NEVADA,  MO. 

MY  DEAR  DR.  FORD: 

I  cannot  refrain  from  writing1  you  this 
line  to  assure  you  of  my  sympathy  for 
yourself  and  your  dear  wife  in  these  hours 
of  sorrow.  I  earnestly  unite  my  prayers 
with  the  thousands  of  others  who  love 
you,  that  the  Comforter  may  indeed  fill 
your  hearts  with  His  fullness.  God  re- 
member to  be  gracious  unto  you. 

MRS.  JENNIE  ANDREWS,  A.  B.  P.  SOCIETY, 
ST.    LOUIS. 

Miss  MAY  FORD  : 

MY  DEAR  MAY  —  I  read  with  surprise 
this  morning  of  your  brother  Rochester's 
death.     Convey    my   deepest   sympathy 
to  your  father  and  mother, 
u 


210  ROCHESTER   FORD. 


MISS        FANNY        MoHATTON      LATTIMORE, 
ST.    LOUIS. 

MY  DEAR  MRS.  FORD  :  I  do  most  fully 
sympathize  with  each  one  of  you  in  this 
separation  from  the  one  so  very  dear  to 
your  hearts,  but  it  is  only  for  a  little 
time,  my  dear  friend.  May  our  heavenly 
Father  give  you  sweet  peace. 


REV.  W.  P.  HARVEY,  D.  D.,  PRESIDENT  OF 
BAPTIST  BOOK  CONCERN,  LOUISVILLE, 
KY. 

DR.  AND  MRS.  FORD  : 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER  AND  SISTER  — 
I  deeply  sympathize  with  you  in  your 
bereavement.  I  know  what  it  is  to  be 
separated  from  loved  ones.  How  con- 
soling to  believe  our  loss  is  their  infinite 
gain. 


A  SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.        211 

MRS.  J.  D.  MURPHY,  FREDERICKTOWN,  MO. 

MY  DEAR  SISTER  : 

I  have  read  of  the  going  away  of  your 
noble  son.  My  heart  feels  for  you  in  your 
great  trouble.  The  Lord  bless  and  com- 
fort you  and  his  dear  father.  Oh,  what 
a  great  loss  !  Words  of  consolation  are  as 
empty  sound  to  you.  Each  day  our  dear 
ones  go  over  to  the  beautiful  land  of 
rest.  We  have  so  many  loved  ones  there 
waiting  for  us. 

MR.        CHARLES        BLENMAN,        ATTORNEY 

AT  LAW,  TUCSON,  ARIZ. 

MY  DEAR  MRS.  FORD  : 

I  have  just  returned  from  my  vacation 
in  California  where  I  learned  of  the  death 
of  your  son  Rochester.  Be  assured  of 
my  heartfelt  sympathy  in  this  dark,  dark 
hour  of  trial.  I  had  been  so  intimate 
with  him  ever  since  my  arrival  in  Tuc- 
son, now  nine  years  ago,  that  I  feel  his 


212  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

death  like  that  of  a  near  relative.  He 
will  be  sadly  missed  in  Tucson  and  no 
one  will  miss  him  more  than  I.  He  was 
my  esteemed  friend. 

MRS.  M.  E.  HOUSTON,  ST.  LOUIS. 

MY  DEAR  FRIEND  : 

What  a  beautiful  testimony  to  Koches- 
ter's  grand  noble  character  that  in  The 
Citizen  of  Tucson.  It  must  be  a  comfort 
to  you  to  know  that  he  was  so  lovingly 
appreciated  in  the  home  of  his  adoption. 
Think,  my  dear  friend,  of  the  bright  light 
that  shines  all  along  his  earthly  pathway 
and  lets  its  rays  penetrate  the  darkness 
that  now  enshouds  you.  You  have  been 
greatly  blest  and  honored  in  having  such 
a  son.  I  am  glad  that  I  knew  Eochester. 

REV.    Q.    W.     HYDE,  LEXINGTON,  MO. 

DR.  AND  MRS.  S.  H.  FORD  : 

MY  DEAR  FRIENDS  —  The  Central 
Baptist  brought  us  the  mournful  tidings 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  213 

of  the  death  of  your  noble  son,  Roches- 
ter  Ford.  My  heart  bleeds  with  yours 
over  this  unutterable  loss.  How  inscru- 
table are  the  ways  of  Providence  !  Jesus 
once  said,  "  What!  do  thou  knowest  not 
now,  but  thou  shalt  know  hereafter." 

"  All  things  work  together  for  good  to 
them  that  love  God,  to  them  who  are 
called  according  to  His  purpose." 

Please  don't  grieve  unduly  —  "the 
time  is  short."  Your  son  grandly  filled 
up  the  measure  of  his  years,  and  is  now 
with  his  Lord.  You  will  very  soon  meet 
him  in  glory.  God  help  us  to  live  right ; 
and  then  "  to  die  will  be  gain." 

MRS.  E.  W.  BEEAY,  CHABLEVOIX, 
MICHIGAN. 

DEAR  MRS.  FORD  : 

I  have  just  heard  from  Mrs.  Teasdale 
of  the  passing  away  of  your  noble,  gifted 
son  Rochester.  I  am  greatly  shocked 
and  grieved.  He  is  with  his  Lord  far 


214  ROCHESTER  FORD. 

happier  than  when  with  us.  But  how 
you  must  miss  him.  May  the  blessed 
Lord  comfort  you  and  yours.  You  have 
my  sincerest  sympathy. 

MRS.  ELIZA  D.  CLINE,  NEVADA,  MO. 

MY  DEAR  MRS.  FORD  : 

I  have  just  heard  of  the  death  of  your 
grand  and  gifted  son  Eochester.  I  knew 
him  well.  Pie  was  as  near  perfect,  I 
think,  as  a  human  being  could  be.  I 
deeply  sympathize  with  you  in  your  un- 
speakable loss.  May  God  in  His  mercy 
help  you  to  bear  up  under  this  sad 
affliction. 

MRS.  J.  B.  SCHOFIELD,  RIVERSIDE,  ILLS. 

DR.  AND  MRS.  FORD: 

MYDEARFRIENDS — I  have  just  learned 
of  the  death  of  your  noble  son.  I  extend 
to  you  my  deepest  sympathy.  I  know 
what  it  is  to  lose  an  only  boy  and  since  my 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  215 

last  great  sorrow,  the  going  away  of  my 
dear  husband,  I  have  grieved  for  my  son 
more  than  ever.  You  lost  yours  in  ripe 
manhood,  but  oh,  what  blessed  assurance 
is  yours  of  his  present  and  eternal  glory. 
Dr.  Ford  spoke  such  comforting  words 
in  prayer  meeting  just  after  the  death  of 
Dr.  Schofield.  JL  must  now  express  my 
heartfelt  appreciation  and  that  of  my 
family.  They  were  such  a  solace  to  our 
wounded  hearts. 

MR.    WILEY    E.     TUSSING,     LOS    ANGELES, 
CAL. 

DEAR  MRS.  FORD  : 

I  am  just  in  receipt  of  a  letter  from 
my  brother  in  Tucson,  announcing  the 
death  of  your  son  Rochester.  While  I 
knew  Mr.  Ford  had  not  been  so  strong 
lately  as  usual  I  was  greatly  shocked  and 
grieved  to  learn  of  his  death. 

By  the  death  of  Mr.  Ford  the  world 
loses  one  of  its  best  men,  and  my  brother 


216  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

and  myself  one  of  our  very  best  friends. 
He  was  a  friend  to  us  both  when  we 
needed  a  friend,  not  alone  in  a  worldly, 
but  also  in  a  spiritual  sense.  He  helped 
us  both  get  a  start  in  this  world,  mate- 
rially and  by  kind  and  wise  advice,  and 
we  shall  long  remember  him  as  a  kind 
and  loving  brother. 

I  can  hardly  bring  Ayself  to  utter 
words  of  consolation  as  I  know  he  has 
gone  to  the  reward  for  a  work,  which, 
were  we  all  to  do  as  well  as  he,  would 
leave  the  world  far,  far  better  both  mor- 
ally and  spiritually.  Tucson  will  long 
remember  his  work  there.  May  the  God 
of  all  Grace  sustain  you.  Mrs.  Tussing 
joins  me  in  heartfelt  sympathy. 

MRS.    W.  H.  WILLIAMS,  LOUISVILLE,   KEN- 
TUCKY. 

MY  VERY  DEAR  FRIEND  : 

"When  the  news  reached  me  of  the 
going  home  of  your  beloved  son,  my 


A   SUCCESSFUL    LAWYER.  217 

first  feeling  was  one  of  tender  sym- 
pathy for  the  desolate,  sorely  smit- 
ten parents  and  of  prayer  that  God 
would  be  pleased  to  uphold  and  comfort 
them  in  this  time  of  bitter  sorrow.  From 
many  hearts  I  am  sure  that  prayer  has 
been  offered  up  oftentimes  since.  I 
cannot  express  to  you  how  much  I  feel 
for  you.  Although  I  knew  your  son 
only  a  little  while,  his  frank,  truthful 
and  conscientious  spirit  left  a  deep  im- 
pression on  my  mind,  and  Mr.  Williams 
had  such  implicit  confidence  ;  always  said 
Rochester  had  such  a  decided  grand 
character.  I  remember  one  day  Mr. 
Williams  said  to  me,  "  if  I  should  be  taken 
away  and  you  need  a  friend  and  adviser, 
go  to  Rochester  Ford  ;  I  would  trust  him 
with  everything  I  own."  But  when  I 
needed  him  he  was  away  from  us,  had 
been  compelled  to  go  to  Tucson  for  his 
health.  God  bless  you  both  and  may  you 
feel  the  everlasting  arms  around  about 
and  underneath  you. 


218  ROCHESTER   FORD. 


REV.  W.  A.  JARREL,  D.  D.,  DALLAS,  TEX. 

DEAR  BRO.  AND  SISTER  FORD. 

While  we  would  not  be  like  Jesus  if  we 
were  not  to  weep,  yet,  we  would  not  be 
like  Him  were  we  not  to  say,  "  Even  so, 
Father;  for  thus  itseemeth  good  in  thy 
sight."  Wading  the  deep  waters  has 
taught  me,  that,  on  the  death  of  the 
Christians  of  our  families,  to  thank  the 
Lord  for  the  honor  of  angels'  special 
visit  to  our  home  —  in  taking  our  loved 
ones  above  —  and  to  thank  the  Lord  for 
their  promotion  from  the  present  to  a 
higher  position  in  the  kingdom  of  God. 
Remember,  the  parting  is  like  to  a  loved 
one  having  gone  before  us  to  some  earthly 
paradisical  home,  whom  we  are  soon 
to  follow.  I  am  sure,  dear  ones, God  will 
give  you  the  sweet  grace  to  look  at  it 
thus,  and  bask  in  the  sunshine  of  1 
Thess.  4:18-18.  In  my  heart  I  weep 
and  rejoice  with  you,  and  pray,  God  bless 
you,  and  keep  you. 


A   SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.  219 


DR.  J.  F.  CHRISTIAN,  D.  D.,  CHICAGO,  ILL. 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER  FORD  : 

Allow  me  to  extend  to  you  my  tender- 
est  sympathy  on  the  loss  of  your  dear 
son. 

REV.  S.  Y.  PITTS,  WEST  PLAINS,  MO. 

DR.  AND  MRS.  S.  H,  FORD  : 

MY  DEAR  COUSIN  —  There  are  some 
fires  on  the  hearthstone,  when  they  have 
burned  down,  still  leave  cheer,  warmth 
and  comfort.  I  have  seen  sparks  on 
my  own,  brighten,  brighten,  as  they 
went  out.  So  it  must  have  been  in  the 
death  of  your  noble  son.  Certainly  your 
fondest  hopes  as  Christians  were  realized 
in  him ;  he  has  left  you  a  garland  of 
memories  to  treasure  in  your  heart's 
casket. 

Then  he  was  so  admired,  trusted  and 
loved  by  his  brethren.  His  Savior,  and 
the  good  gone  on  before,  waited  in  fond 


220  ^ROCHESTER   FORD. 

expectation  of  his  coming.  Don't  you 
think  Bros.  Senter  and  Ely  were  glad! 
He  made  a  brave  fight  for  life  and 
righteousness.  His  record  is  good. 
Amen.  My  tender  love  to  Sam  and 
May.  The  noble  brother  they  loved  so 
well  is  still  a  light  and  inspiration. 
Truly  we  all  can  say :  The  Lord  gave, 
the  Lord  hath  taken  away,  blessed  be 
the  name  of  the  Lord. 


MRS.  ANNA  M.  PITTS,  WEST  PLAINS,  MO. 

MY  DEAR  COUSIN  SALLIE  : 

It  was  with  surprise  and  sorrow  that 
I  saw  the  picture  and  read  of  the  un- 
timely death  of  your  noble  son,  in  the 
Central.  Not  only  is  your  loss  irrepara- 
ble, but  the  cause  of  Christ  has  lost  a 
valiant  soldier,  for  wherever  his  home 
was,  his  work  for  his  Master  went  on  in 
loving  devotion.  There  were  few  young 
men  of  my  acquaintance,  whose  rise  and 
progress  I  had  watched  with  so  much 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  221 

interest  as  I  had  cousin  Rochester's. 
Though  I  did  not  see  him  often  I  have 
never  lost  sight  of  him.  I  grieve  with 
you  and  his  father,  his  sister  and  brother 
in  this  heart-breaking  bereavement,  but 
yet,  I  know,  too,  that  there  is  One  who 
sticketh  closer  than  a  brother  who  will 
abide  with  and  comfort  you. 

REV.   S.   E-   EWING,  PASTOR  OF  EUCLID 
AV.  BAPTIST  CHURCH,  ST.  LOUIS. 

DR.  AND  MRS.  FORD: 

DEAR  FRIENDS  —  It  was  with  deep 
sorrow  that  I  have  just  heard  of  the  death 
of  your  son  Rochester.  I  know  God  will 
comfort  your  hearts.  Many  of  us  have 
looked  upon  him  as  an  ideal  man  for 
years,  and  his  memory  will  be  sweet  to  us 
who  were  permitted  to  have  some  associa- 
tion with  him. 


222  ROCHESTER   FORD. 


REV.  J.  T.  HERGET,  SUPERINTENDENT  OF 
MISSIONS,  ST.  LOUIS  BAPTIST  ASSOCIA- 
TION. 

MY  DEAR  DR.  FORD  : 

On  returning  from  my  vacation  yester- 
day I  learned  of  the  recent  death  of  your 
son  Rochester.  My  heart  immediately 
went  out  in  sympathy  to  you  and  Mrs. 
Ford  and  to  the  other  members  of  your 
family.  What  a  great  comfort  to  you  in 
this  hour  to  lean  upon  the  arm  of  Him 
who  has  said,  "  I  will  never  leave  thee 
nor  forsake  thee."  May  our  Father  fill 
your  soul  with  His  own  unspeakable 
peace  and  grace.  Not  lost,  only  gone 
before. 

MRS.  IDA  E.  HOWELL,  TUCSON,  ARIZONA. 

MY  DEAR  MRS.  FORD  : 

I  feel  I  must  write  you  just  a  few  lines, 
not  that  I  think  I  could  say  anything  to 
lessen  your  sorrow  in  the  loss  of  your 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  223 

dear  son,  but  just  to  tell  you  how  dear  he 
had  grown  to  us,  in  the  little  church  in 
Tucson.  I  feel  his  life  of  suffering  and 
faithfulness  was  not  in  vain,  that  it  will 
always  be  an  inspiration  to  us,  to  hold 
out  faithfully  unto  the  end,  and  truly  the 
good  he  has  done  will  live  after  him. 
Our  hearts  are  bowed  in  grief. 

Verily  you  are  indeed  "  Blessed  among 
women  "  to  have  given  to  the  world  such 
a  son.  And  may  the  "  Sun  of  Righteous- 
ness'1 arise  to  you  with  "healing7'  in 
his  wings. 

MRS.  BETTY  McHATTON,  FRANKLIN,  TENN. 

MY  DEAR  SARAH  : 

I  have  just  finished  reading  the  eulogies 
on  dear  Rochester,  and  try  to  set  about 
writing  you. 

My  dear,  I  feel  dumb,  before  such  a 
loss  as  this  is  to  you  and  think  of  offering 
consolation,  when  I  realize  your  supreme 
faith.  You  are  my  oldest  and  best  loved 


224  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

friend.  I  have  always  felt  great  pride  in 
Rochester's  career,  however,  aside  from 
that  tender  tie.  Few  mothers  are  blest 
with  such  a  son.  Rare  are  there  such 
well-rounded  characters  met.  Great  is 
the  loss  to  church  and  State  in  such  a  use- 
ful man.  I  feel  sure  you  will  appreciate 
my  sympathy,  which  is  deep  as  if  we  were 
bound  by  the  tie  of  blood,  instead  of 
association  and  congeniality. 

MRS.    LOUISE     O.    RAMSEY,    SHELBTVILLE, 

KENTUCKY. 

MY  DEAR,  DEAR  COUSIN  : 

That  you  should  be  called  to  suffer 
this  ;  my  heart  is  torn  for  you.  For  no  one, 
dear,  feels  more  deeply  my  dear  Cousin 
Rochester's  death,  than  I  do  other 
than  yourself.  Words  cannot  tell  you 
just  what  I  feel.  His  life  has  always 
been  one  of  the  pure  uplifting  constant 
influences  of  my  life.  Never  for  any 
length  of  time  have  we  lost  sight  of  each 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  225 

other.  He,  dear,  has  finished  his  course 
in  the  lessons  of  life  and  has  been  taken 
to  the  higher  consciousness  of  perfect  joy 
before  us,  but  oh,  how  glad  it  will  make 
us  to  follow.  There  is  no  death.  The 
dear  one  has  passed  through  the  shadow 
to  find  the  perfect  life.  Oh,  the  sweet- 
ness and  purity  of  his  earthly  life.  I 
bow  my  head  to  its  benediction.  I  thank 
the  Father  that  you  all  abide  in  the  secret 
place  of  the  most  High  and  this  great 
trial,  and  seeming  sorrow,  will  no  wise 
touch  your  real  or  inner  life,  but  be  the 
door  opening  to  a  fuller,  completer  life 
beyond.  God  keep  you. 

MRS.     FANNY    ROTHWELL,     LIBERTY,     MO. 

i 

MY  DEAR  COUSIN  : 

I  learned  from  the  Central  last  even- 
ing of  your  unspeakable  loss.  My  heart 
is  deeply  grieved  for  you.  None  but 
those  who  have  had  such  good  and 
noble  loved  ones  to  leave  them  can  fully 

15 


226  ROCHESTER  FORD. 

enter  into  that  heart  sympathy  which  is 
mine  to  share  with  you  in  your  present 
grief.  What  could  we  do  in  such  hours 
were  not  the  strong  arms  of  our  loving 
Savior  beneath  us? 

Mr.  Rothwell  spoke  so  often  in  his 
lifetime  of  your  noble  son  and  held 
him  in  such  high  esteem  and  affection. 
The  first  thing  I  thought  of  when  I 
looked  at  his  picture  was  their  meeting 
in  heaven. 

TUCSON,  ARIZONA,  AUGUST  19,  1903. 

DEAR  MRS.  FORD  : 

It  is  with  the  most  heartfelt  sympathy 
that  I  write  you  these  lines  in  fond  re- 
membrance of  one  of  my  dearest  friends, 
your  son,  who  has  departed  this  life. 

"When  the  sad  news  of  Mr.  Ford's 
death  reached  me,  it  seemed  to  me  that 
it  could  not  be  true,  as  it  appeared  to  me 
that  it  was  but  a  short  time  that  I  bade 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  227 

him  good-bye  wishing  him  a  pleasant 
and  helpful  vacation  at  home. 

It  grieves  me  now  as  I  write,  to  think 
that  I  have  lost  such  a  religious,  good 
and  helpful  friend  as  I  found  Mr.  Ford 
to  be.  He  was  always  kind  and  pleasant 
with  me,  and  always  pointed  out  to  me 
the  road  to  eternal  life,  teaching  me  how 
to  serve  and  honor  the  Lord.  How 
sweet  it  is  to  me  now  to  know  that  he  is 
at  his  journey's  end,  having  traveled  the 
road  to  eternal  life  which  he  so  plainly 
pointed  out  to  me.  It  is  now  plain  to 
me  that  all  the  suggestions  Mr.  Ford 
made  to  me  were  for  my  immediate  good 
and  future  happiness. 

No  one  in  need  ever  asked  Mr.  Ford 
for  assistance  who  did  not  receive  aid 
from  him.  In  his  business  life  honesty 
was  always  his  chief  aim.  In  his  pro- 
fession he  stood  with  the  first.  How 
noble  were  his  endeavors  in  behalf  of  the 
poor  crippled  orphan  boy,  Ruby  Hopkins. 
When  hisphysical  condition  was  such  that 


228  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

he  should  not  have  been  working  he 
would  climb  the  court  house  stairs  to  see 
that  justice  was  done  this  orphan  boy. 
Compensation  he  did  not  think  of,  for 
he  charged  nothing  for  his  services.  His 
sense  of  Christian  duty  and  justice  was 
compensation  enough  to  his  generous, 
sympathetic  soul. 

How  happy  I  am  to  know  that  I  have 
had  the  pleasure  of  working  for  a  man 
with  such  a  pure  heart  and  unapproach- 
able character.  How  sweet  to  review 
his  character,  so  noble,  so  pure  and  so 
kind. 

He  was  a  close  friend  of  my  brother 
and  helped  him  in  many  ways. 

My  brother  and  I  had  quite  a  long 
conversation  with  him  before  he  left  for 
his  home,  and  we  both  loved  and  honored 
him,  as  did  all  that  knew  him. 

I  have  been  to  his  room  a  number  of 
times  when  I  knew  he  was  suffering,  but 
never  have  I  heard  him  complain. 

How  the  church  will  miss  him  !     Never 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  229 

a  Sabbath  day  passed  but  that  he  was 
at  church  and  Sunday-school,  and  always 
took  a  most  helpful  part  in  all  church 
work.  The  church  realizes  that  there  is 
a  vacancy  that  can  never  be  filled. 

Tucson  has  lost  her  first  citizen,  a  man 
that  never  feared  to  commend  the  right 
and  to  oppose  the  wrong. 

Mr.  Ford  has  not  left  us^«  but  simply 
gone  before,  and  ere  long  through  the 
grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  we  shall 
meet  again. 

MRS.  JENNIE  O'DONNELL,  HOUSTON, 

TEXAS. 

MY  DEAR  COUSIN  : 

The  magazine  reached  me  in  which 
I  found  the  tribute  paid  my  beloved 
cousin  Rochester,  whose  death  was 
certainly  an  unexpected  blow  to  me. 
Surely  a  great  and  noble  man  has  fallen. 
I  have  always  considered  it  a  privilege  to 
have  known  my  cousin,  for  we  find  so 


230  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

few  as  honorable,  just  and  good.  I  feel 
assured  he  is  in  heaven  with  our  blessed 
Savior,  whom  he  loved  so  well  and  served 
so  faithfully.  What  a  comfort  to  have 
had  your  precious  son  with  you  in  the 
last  weeks  of  his  life  — a  life  so  dear  to 
us  all.  The  separation  will  not  be  long. 
To  the  Christian  the  years  pass  so  rapidly. 
We  daily  and  hourly  long  to  be  with 
our  Heavenly  Father.  Our  dear  Roches- 
ter is  another  one  added  to  the  white- 
robed  throng  who  are  shouting  glad 
hosannas  around  the  throne  of  God. 

Blanche  and  James  will  be  so  grieved 
that  they  could  not  see  him  before  he  went 
above.  They  loved  and  admired  him  and 
were  always  so  fond  of  his  society. 

MRS.     EARL    D.     SIMS,     BAKER     CITY, 
OREGON. 

DEAR  DOCTOR  AND  MRS.  FORD  : 

I  have  just  received  the  sad  news  of 
Mr.  Rochester  Ford's  death.  JM~o  words 


A   SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.  231 

can  express  to  you  our  sorrow.  How  well 
we  know  and  fully  appreciate  the  pure 
manly  life,  not  ended  but  transplanted 
into  that  glorious  world,  where,  in  the 
presence  of  our  Redeemer,  it  will  go  on 
from  glory  to  glory  eternally.  The  hearts 
of  his  loved  ones  are  sad  to-day  because 
of  his  going  away,  but  I  believe  the  re- 
deemed in  heaven  are  rejoicing  that  a 
pure  consecrated  life  has  cast  aside  the 
burden  and  pain  of  this  world  and  entered 
into  everlasting  joy.  This  world  has  lost 
a  noble  example  for  good,  but  the  good 
he  did  will  never  die — the  world  has  been 
made  better  for  his  having  lived  in  it, 
and  the  crown  of  reward  that  Rochester 
Ford  receives  at  the  hands  of  his  Savior 
will  be  set  with  bright  jewels  won  for  his 
Lord. 

QOV.  JAMES  P.  EAGLE,  LITTLE  ROCK, 
ARKANSAS. 

MY  DEAR  SISTER  FORD  : 

I  have  just  received  your  letter  bring- 


232  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

ing  the  sad  news  of  the  death  of  your 
noble  Christian  son,  Rochester.  I  am 
deeply  grieved.  With  a  crushed  heart  I 
enter  into  deepest  sympathy  with  you 
and  brother  Ford  in  this  the  greatest  be- 
reavement that  could  come  to  father  and 
mother.  You  have  my  prayers,  —  God's 
grace  will  be  sufficient,  trust  Him  as  you 
have  done  for  so  many  years. 

MISS.  A.  B.  HALL,  TUCSON,  ARIZONA. 

I  cannot  express  to  you  my  regret  at 
the  death  of  dear  Mr.  Ford.  Having 
just  heard  the  sad  news,  I  cannot  refrain 
from  intruding  on  the  sacredness  of  your 
grief,  my  dear  Mrs.  Ford.  I  felt  I  was 
saying,  "  good-bye  "  when  I  parted  with 
him.  Latterly  he  has  been  so  lovely  to 
me  because  I  have  been  more  thrown 
with  him  having  to  seek  his  wise  counsel. 
We  cannot  see  why  one  so  needed  here 
should  have  been  taken.,  I  am  so  grate- 
ful to  think  God  sent  him  to.  your  arms 
before  taking  Him  to  Himself. 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  233 


MRS.  A.  C.  VEST,  TUCSON,  ARIZONA. 

MY  DEAR  MRS.  FORD  : 

It  is  with  a  very  sad  heart  I  write 
these  lines  to  you.  I  did  not  think  when 
Mr.  Ford  left  us  I  should  never  again 
see  him  on  earth.  My  dear  Mrs.  Ford, 
my  heart  goes  out  in  sincere  sympathy 
to  you  for  I  know  what  you  have  lost. 
But  what  consolation  you  have  in  the  as- 
surance he  is  in  heaven  ! 

His  last  words  to  his  father  were  beau- 
tiful. Everybody  speaks  of  him  as  be- 
ing grand  and  good.  Our  little  church 
has  lost  its  main  stay.  He  was  a  true 
and  noble  man  ;  we  will  miss  him  so.  I 
do  so  truly  sympathize  with  you. 

MISS  JENNIE  A.  WELCH,  PHOENIX, 
ARIZONA. 

MY  DEAR  MRS.  FORD  : 

With  grief  I  have  just  read  of  your 
dear  son's  death.  It  comes  to  me  that  a 


234  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

word  to  show  you  how  he  was  appreciated 
in  his  far-away  home  might  be  a  drop  of 
comfort  in  your  cup  of  sorrow.  The 
Baptists  of  Arizona  will  miss  one  of  our 
most  valiant  soldiers.  A  true  gentleman 
and  a  soldier  for  Christ  was  Mr.  Roches- 
ter Ford,  and  we  with  you  deeply  mourn 
his  loss.  I  grieve  for  you  and  with  you, 
yet  I  also  rejoice  even  more.  You  have 
had  such  comfort  and  joy  in  your  son  and 
now  you  can  rejoice  for  him,  while  for  his 
loss  you  sorrow  for  yourself. 

MRS    ANNIE    R.  M'ALLESTER,    PLEASANT 
HILL,  MO. 

MY  DEAR  COUSIN  : 

The  Central  Baptist  informs  me  of 
the  passing  away  of  your  dear  son  Roch- 
ester. How  consoling  to  know  that 
your  precious  boy  has  gone  before  you 
to  the  glorious  Beyond.  My  dear  heart- 
broken cousin,  you  have  my  heartfelt 
sympathy.  We  were  proud  of  dear 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  235 

Rochester  and  numbers  outside  his  fam- 
ily connection  appreciated  his  great  worth. 
"  A  good  name  is  rather  to  be  chosen 
than  great  riches,  and  loving  favor  rather 
than  silver  and  gold."  We  would  not 
rebel,  for  does  not  God  know  what  is  best 
for  us?  And  surely  we  have  more  to  be 
thankful  for  than  we  merit. 


S.  W.  ANDERSON,  OWENSBORO,  KY. 

MY  DEAR  DR.  FORD  : 

Among  all  the  sad  things  to  hear  on 
my  return  home  the  painful  intelligence 
of  your  great  bereavement  was  the  sad- 
dest of  all. 

No  words  can  express  the  deep  sym- 
pathy of  my  heart  that  goes  out  to  you 
and  dear  Mrs.  Ford  and  family. 

What  a  consolation  it  must  be,  too,  to 
recall  the  grandeur  of  a  life  that  made 
the  world  brighter  and  humanity  better 
and  happier,  because  he  lived  among 
men.  For  I  suppose  there  are  few  men 


236  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

who  in  their  short  lives  reflected  greater 
honor  upon  father  and  mother  and  the 
Master's  cause  than  did  Rochester  Ford. 
My  family  join  in  love  and  sympathy 
to  you. 

MRS.  LOU  CARLTON  ROCHELLE,  REACHI, 
LA. 

DR.  AND  MRS.  S.  H.  FORD: 

MY  DEAR  FRIENDS  —  I  have  just 
read  the  sad  news  of  your  precious  son's 
death,  and  I  come,  with  your  many 
friends,  to  express  my  affectionate  sym- 
pathy for  you  under  so  severe  tin  afflic- 
tion. Only  those  who  have  passed 
through  such  sorrow  can  know  what  it 
is  to  give  up  their  dear  children.  You 
have  the  blessed  assurance  that  he  is  now 
among  the  redeemed. 

MRS.  L.  L.  M.  CARUTH,  WASHINGTON,  ARK. 

DEAR  DR.  FORD  : 

How  kind  and  loving  the  Savior  was 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  237 

and  80  like  Him  to  let  you  and  Sister  Ford 
have  the  sweet  pleasure  of  nursing  your 
loved  son  in  his  last  illness.  I  know  it 
added  to  his  joy  to  have  father  and  mother 
near  him  even  to  the  very  entrance  of  the 
pearly  gates  of  heaven.  Such  an  exit 
from  earth  crowned  with  the  peace  and 
glory  that  were  his,  is  enough  to  make  us 
rejoice  rather  than  weep,  and  yet  we 
weep,  even  under  the  promise  of  Jesus' 
sweet  voice,  whispering,  "  Let  not  your 
heart  be  troubled,  neither  let  it  be  afraid. 
I  have  chosen  you,  so  shall  I  comfort 
thee." 

DR.  J.  T.  DOUGLAS,  FERGUSON,  MO. 

DEAR  DR.  AND  MRS.  FORD  : 

You  and  your  family  have  the  heartfelt 
sympathy  of  Mrs.  Douglas  and  myself  in 
your  great  bereavement. 

God's  grace  will  be  sufficient  for  you. 

Fraternally  yours. 


238  ROCHESTER    FORD. 


DR.    AND   MRS.    HOWARD   FORD,    GILLIAM, 
MO. 

MY  DEAR  FATHER  : 

No  one  living  had  a  greater  admiration 
for  Rochester's  good  character  than  had 
I,  and  my  love  for  him  as  a  brother  was 
deeper  than  he  knew.  It  seems  strange 
to  me  that  I  should  miss  him  so  much 
when  I  saw  so  little  of  him  and  heard  so 
infrequently  from  him  direct,  but  the 
hope  that  I  could  visit  him  at  Tucson 
where  he  was  so  greatly  loved,  was 
always  a  cheering  thought  to  me. 

MRS.  M.  E.  UNDERWOOD,   OWENSBORO, 
KENTUCKY. 

MY  DEAR  DR.  AND  MRS.  S.  H.  FORD: 
I  must  write  a  word  to  express  my 
deep  sympathy  in  this  your  dark  hour  of 
bereavement.  Remember  me.  I  need 
your  prayers  and  consolation.  A  tele- 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  239 

gram  just  received  tells  me  of  the  depart- 
ure of  my  dear  daughter  yesterday  of 
typhoid  fever  at  Natchitoches,  La.,  where 
her  husband  was  president  of  State  Nor- 
mal College.  My  heart  bleeds  for  my 
great  loss  and  yours. 

REV.  BEN  COX,  LITTLE  ROCK,  ARK. 

MY  DEAR  BRO.  AND  SISTER  FORD  : 

It  was  with  deep  regret  that  I  read  of 
the  death  of  your  dear  son.  My  wife 
and  I  hasten  to  join  your  many  friends 
in  extending  sympathy.  I  trust  that 
you  may  find  great  comfort  in  the  word 
of  the  Lord,  especially  where  He  says : 
"  Call  upon  me  in  the  day  of  trouble  and 
I  will  deliver  thee,  and  thou  shalt  glorify 


me." 


Praying  His  gracious  care  and  keeping 
upon  you  and  yours,  and  craving  an  in- 
terest in  your  prayers,  I  am, 

Yours  in  Christ. 


240  ROCHESTER  FORD. 

MRS.  METCALFE  AND  MRS.  CLARKE,  WAR- 
RENSBURG,  MO. 

MY  DEAR  DOCTOR  AND  MRS.  FORD  : 

We  see  from  our  St.  Louis  paper  that 
your  good  and  noble  son  Eochester  has 
gone  from  you.  Our  hearts  go  out  to 
you,  for  we  know  sorrow. 

MR.  AND  MRS.  ROBERT  R.  BRUCE,  4572 
BELL  AVE.,  ST.  LOUIS. 

DOCTOR  AND  MRS.  FORD  : 

DEAR  FRIENDS  —  The  tidings  of  the 
death  of  Rochester  Ford  came  as  a  sud- 
den shock  for  we  were  hoping  he  would 
find  relief  whilst  here  and  then  go  to 
some  more  favorable  climate  for  another 
winter.  But  God  knows  best  and  dis- 
poses matters  not  according  to  our  long- 
ings, and  so  the  City  Beautiful  has 
another  glorified  inhabitant  freed  from 
all  fear  of  cold  and  sickness  and  rejoicing 
in  a  state  of  being,  far  beyond  our  ken. 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  241 

Your  loss  is  but  for  a  moment  and  then 
he  will  be  there  to  welcome  you  home. 
God  has  certainly  been  wonderfully 
kind  in  giving  you  such  a  splendidly  en- 
dowed and  noble-hearted  son  and  in 
sparing  his  life  these  many  years.  I 
regard  it  as  a  great  privilege  to  have 
known  as  a  friend  such  a  lion-hearted, 
earnest  Christian  and  courteous  gentle- 
man who  always  left  an  impress  for  good, 
and  knew  how  to  counsel  wisely.  Truly 
he  gave  forth  no  uncertain  sound  nor 
did  his  light  burn  dim,  but  his  bright 
cheerful  disposition  and  faithful  Christly 
walk  day  by  day  made  him  beloved  and 
esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him.  Thank 
God  for  Rochester  Ford's  life  and 
character. 

MRS.  SOPHIE   BUSS,  7742   PARNELL   AVE., 
CHICAGO. 

MY  DEAR  MRS.  AND  Miss  FORD  : 

A    letter   yesterday    brought    me    the 
news  of  the  sad  bereavement  which  came 

16 


242  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

to  you  in  the  going  before  of  dear  Mr. 
Rochester  Ford,  and  I  will  not  hesitate 
to  send  yon  a  word  of  sympathy  even 
from  a  distance.  Perhaps  you  expected 
his  going  home  and  were  in  a  measure 
prepared  for  what  was  to  come ;  but  the 
pain  of  separation  is  the  same,  the  silver 
cord  is  loosed,  and  the  spirit  has  departed. 
Dear  Mrs.  Ford,  may  the  Lord  strengthen 
you  and  dear  Dr.  Ford  in  the  hour  of 
laying  aside  the  precious  casket  in  which 
his  spirit  dwelt  while  here.  Remember 
it  is  only  for  a  little  while,  and  then  the 
reunion  will  be  forever. 

A  believer's  hope  is  a  precious  hope 
and  cannot  be  marred  in  any  way  be- 
cause it  rests  on  the  living  God  whose 
words  are  yea  and  amen. 

MRS.     HAZELTON    ELLIOT,     4350      BERLIN 

AYE.,  ST.  LOUIS. 
MY  DEAR  MRS.  FORD  : 

I  have  thought  of  you  and  yours  so 
much  since  I  heard  of  your  great  sorrow. 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  243 

I  am  sure  you  have  no  friends  that  sym- 
pathize with  you  more  truly  than  we. 
We  would  have  heen  with  you  in  the 
last  service  for  your  dear  son,  but  it  was 
impossible  for  us  to  do  so.  All  join  in 
love  and  sympathy. 

REV.  GEO.  A.  LOFTON,  D.  D.,  NASHVILLE, 

TENN. 

MY  DEAR  BRO.  : 

The  notice  of  Rochester  Ford's  death 
brings  profound  sorrow  to  my  heart  as  I 
remember  him  in  his  youth,  and  have 
known  something  of  his  manhood  years. 
Trained  up  in  the  way  he  should  go, 
early  professing  the  religion  of  Jesus 
Christ,  combining  brilliant  talents  with 
the  highest  culture,  nothing  could  have 
robbed  him  of  eminent  success  in  his 
profession,  nor  of  extended  influence  for 
good,  but  premature  affliction  and  an  un- 
timely grave.  From  the  start  he  gave 
great  promise  of  high  position  in  his 


244  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

profession  and  of  usefulness  in  the  church 
of  God,  and  all  who  knew  him  took 
interest  in  his  future,  will  greatly  grieve 
over  the  fate  which  cut  him  off  from  his 
hopes  and  deprived  the  world  of  his 
service. 

But  the  will  of  God  be  done.  We  do 
not  understand  the  mysteries  of  that 
providence  which  so  often  subserves  its 
purpose  in  the  young  life  and  the  short 
career.  Rochester  Ford  nobly  fulfilled 
the  divine  purpose  which  gave  him  birth 
and  took  him  away  ;  although  compara- 
tively young  he  leaves  behind  him  the 
rich  inheritance  of  a  splendid  character 
and  of  a  well-ended,  though  hardly  be- 
gun life. 

To  you,  his  dear  parents,  I  extend  my 
ten de rest  love  and  sympathy  in  this  dark 
hour  of  bereavement,  likewise  to  the  old 
church  of  which  he  was  a  member,  and 
in  which  I  was  once  his  pastor.  Parents 
and  church  have  done  well  in  helping  to 
mould  a  character  which  honored  the 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  245 

day  and  the  world  in  which  he  lived  and 
which  adds  another  trophy  to  the  grace 
of  Christ  and  the  glory  of  heaven. 

PRESIDENT  J.  P.  GREENE  (WRITTEN  A  FEW 
DAYS  BEFORE  MR.  FORD  PASSED  AWAY). 

MY  DEAR  EOCHESTER  : 

I  have  just  heard  you  are  at  home  and 
not  well.  Have  been  away  five  weeks, 
and  lost  the  run  of  things  —  did  not  know 
you  were  in  Missouri.  I  should  be  so 
glad  to  see  you.  I  love  you  just  as  I 
used  to,  in  the  time  gone  by,  when  we 
used  to  have  such  pleasant  hours  together. 
It  has  been  a  cross  to  me  to  be  so  far 
from  you,  and  see  you  so  seldom.  May 
God  bless  you.  But  He  will,  for  He 
has  blessed  you  all  these  years,  and  has 
given  you  strong  faith  in  Him.  I  wish  I 
could  have  you  in  our  house.  Mrs.  Greene 
joins  me  in  expressing  genuine  sympathy 
with  you.  I  pray  God  that  He  will  be 
very  near  to  you. 


246  ROCHESTER  FORD. 

MR.  AND  MRS.  A.  J.  BARNES,  5736  CLEM- 
ENS AVENUE,  ST.  LOUIS. 

DEAR  DOCTOR  AND  MRS.  FORD  : 

You  have  both  been  often  in  our 
thoughts.  Our  hearts  have  sympathized 
with  you  in  your  affliction  and  we  have 
remembered  you  in  our  prayers.  You 
know  as  few  do  how  to  find  comfort  in 
1  Thess.  4 : 13-18.  We  have  often  spoken 
of  writing  you  for  we  do  love  you  and 
sympathize  with  you.  May  God,  who 
alone  can  comfort,  hold  you  very  ten- 
derly. 

PRESIDENT    J.    P.    GREENE,    AFTER    MR. 
FORD'S  DEPARTURE. 

DEAR  DOCTOR  AND  MRS.  FORD  : 

I  heard  Rochester  was  sick  and  wrote 
him  last  week.  Saturday  I  saw  notice  in 
paper,  while  in  St.  Joe,  that  he  died  on 
Thursday.  Do  hope  he  got  my  letter. 
But  if  he  did  not,  he  knew  that  I  loved 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  247 

him  as  a  brother.  He  was  a  noble  man. 
How  I  admired  and  loved  him.  My 
heart  aches  for  you  and  May  and  Sam. 
He  was  more  to  you  than  to  his  friends. 
May  God  comfort  your  hearts.  The 
world  will  never  be  the  same  to  you,  but 
Heaven  will  be  nearer  to  you. 

Mrs.  Greene  joins  me  in  sympathy. 


CHAPTEE  XXV. 

SOME  EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  PRESS. 

DEATH  OF  ROCHESTER  FORD. 

Central  Baptist. 

On  last  Thursday,  Aug.  13th,  Roches- 
ter Ford  passed  away  at  the  age  of  forty- 
six.  He  died  at  the  home  of  his  parents, 
Dr.  S.  H.  and  Mrs.  Sallie  Eochester 
Ford,  near  this  city.  He  was  born  in 
Louisville,  Ky.,  but  came  with  his 
parents  to  this  city,  where  his  educa- 
tion was  completed.  About  twelve 
years  ago  he  suffered  an  attack  of 


248  ROCHESTER  FORD. 

grippe,  which  left  him  diseased  and  he 
was  compelled  to  spend  the  remainder 
of  his  days  in  Arizona,  an  exile  from 
home  and  the  friends  of  his  youth. 
Few  young  men  ever  started  out  in  life 
with  as  fair  prospects  as  greeted  him. 
He  had  to  turn  away  from  a  fine  law 
practice  which  he  had  built  up,  resign 
his  professorship  in  the  St.  Louis  Law 
School  and  abandon  the  plans  which  he 
had  laid  out  for  himself.  In  Arizona 
he  at  once  took  a  prominent  place  at 
the  bar  and  in  educational  interests.  He 
was  made  Chancellor  of  the  State  Uni- 
versity, and  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Cur- 
ators. But  his  religious  life  was  quite 
as  remarkable  as  his  business  career. 
He  was  converted  at  the  age  of  twelve 
and  all  through  his  life  was  known  as  an 
humble,  devout  Christian.  In  St.  Louis 
he  was  made  Treasurer  and  also  Clerk 
of  the  Third  Baptist  Church,  where  he 
held  membership  and  where  his  judg- 
ment and  piety  commanded  the  confi- 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  249 

dence  of  his  brethren.  He  was  also  As- 
sistant Moderator  of  the  Missouri  Baptist 
General  Association  and  a  Trustee  of 
William  Jewell  College,  being  perhaps 
the  youngest  man  ever  on  the  latter 
Board.  When  compelled  to  sever  all 
these  relations  and  take  up  his  struggle 
for  life  in  the  new  country,  he  maintained 
his  Christian  fidelity  and  identified  him- 
self at  once  with  the  struggling  church 
where  he  lived.  By  his  liberal  gifts,  his 
sound  advice  and  his  even  piety  he  be- 
came the  main  support  of  the  church. 
In  the  absence  of  a  pastor  he  preached 
with  acceptance  to  the  congregation. 

Such  are  some  of  the  surface  facts 
concerning  the  life  of  a  good  man  who 
has  been  taken  away.  It  would  take  a 
long  while  to  recount  all  his  virtues  or 
to  tell  the  grief  of  those  who  knew  him 
and  mourn  his  death.  The  first  feeling 
is  one  of  disappointment  that  a  young 
man  of  such  abilities  and  attainments  and 
prospects  should  be  cut  down  in  the 


250  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

midst  of  life.  We  want  to  make  for  him 
a  brilliant  career  and  crown  it  with  a 
ripened,  honored  old  age.  But  the  plans 
that  he  had  to  leave  unfinished  were  the 
earthly,  lower  plans.  On  the  upper  side 
of  the  web  where  the  weaver  sits  and 
controls  the  colors  there  are  forms  and 
figures  of  beauty  which  we  cannot  see 
from  where  we  stand.  We  must  not 
mourn  that  he  was  not  allowed  to  erect 
an  ample  and  attractive  scaffolding ; 
better  than  to  have  done  that,  he  com- 
pleted a  magnificent  structure  which  is 
enduring.  In  the  little  while  that 
Rochester  Ford  lived,  lived  under  the 
depressions  of  disease  and  uncertainty,  he 
accomplished  the  largest  tasks  committed 
to  men.  He  found  God  as  his  Father 
and  Savior  and  Friend.  He  made  a 
complete  surrender  of  his  heart  and 
faculties  to  Jesus  Christ  as  his  Master. 
He  demonstrated  that  an  humble  faith  is 
no  barrier  to  the  acquisition  of  learning 
or  the  attainment  of  professional  stand- 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  251 

ing.  He  illustrated  how  faith  can  grow 
confident  while  this  tabernacle  of  the 
flesh  is  perishing  day  by  day.  In  singu- 
lar beauty  he  illustrated  the  sanctification 
of  family  ties  by  the  influences  of  relig- 
ion, for  till  the  last  he  was  never  too  busy 
nor  too  weak  nor  too  far  away  to  send 
the  ever  daily  message  to  father  and 
mother.  There  was  appropriate  fitness 
in  the  providence  which  permitted  him  to 
come  home  a  few  weeks  ago  and  he  was 
nursed  in  his  last  hours  by  those  who 
would  not  have  craved  a  higher  privilege 
than  to  render  him  this  service  in  the  last 
stages  of  his  earthly  journey.  A  little 
while  before  his  death  he  said  to  his 
father :  "  If  I  should  pass,  remember 
that  my  trust  in  Jesus  Christ  is  without 
a  cloud.  I  have  trusted  in  Him  and 
tried  to  follow  Him  closely  through  life 
and  He  is  with  me  now  and  death  has  to 
me  no  fear." 

Funeral  services  were  held  at  the  home 
on   Saturday   last   at   one   o'clock,  con- 


252  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

ducted  by  Rev.  J.  C,  Armstrong.  Many 
of  his  friends  and  friends  of  the  family 
attended  the  brief  service  in  expression 
of  their  very  deep  and  genuine  sympathy. 
At  the  grave  Dr.  B.  T.  Blewett,  a 
neighbor  and  friend  of  the  family,  made 
appropriate  remarks.  The  burial  was  in 
beautiful  Belief ontaine. 

ROCHESTER  FORD. 

The  Tucson  Citizen. 

Rochester  Ford,  who  died  at  St.  Louis 
last  Thursday,  was  for  a  dozen  years  one 
of  the  most  conspicuous  figures  in  the 
professional  and  political  life  of  Tucson. 
Of  commanding  presence,  he  possessed  a 
charm  of  manner  and  a  degree  of  per- 
sonal magnetism  which,  coupled  with  his 
rare  abilities  and  broad  culture,  fitted  him 
to  shine  in  any  circle,  however  exalted 
or  brilliant.  He  lacked  only  physical 
strength.  During  the  period  of  his  entire 
residence  in  Arizona  he  was  an  invalid, 
and  fought  a  stubborn  contest  with  the 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  253 

grim  destroyer.  Had  he  been  possessed 
of  health  and  strength  he  would  have 
been  one  of  the  most  influential  and  dom- 
inant figures  in  the  public  life  of  Arizona. 
He  was  liberally  educated  and  was  a 
profound  student.  A  close  and  discrim- 
inating observer,  he  looked  beneath  the 
surface  of  things,  and  few  men  were 
better  equipped  with  general  information 
or  more  capable  of  applying  the  logic  of 
reason  to  current  events. 

Mr.  Ford  was  a  convinced  and  logical 
Democrat.  He  was  a  profound  believer 
in  the  teachings  of  Thomas  Jefferson, 
and  held  them  to  be  applicable  to  any 
problem  of  government  which  might 
arise.  Like  his  great  master  he  was  a 
man  of  the  most  refined  and  simple  tastes. 
His  instincts  were  democratic  to  the  core, 
he  trusted  the  people,  he  hated  privilege, 
caste,  oppression  and  monopoly,  and  he 
never  for  a  moment  lost  faith  in  the  su- 
periority of  a  democratic  government 
over  every  other  system.  He  always 


254  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

had  the  courage  of  his  convictions.  His 
mental  processes  were  singularly  rapid 
and  direct.  He  formed  his  opinions 
quickly,  uttered  them  frankly  and  stood 
by  them  manfully. 

He  felt  deeply  great  public  wrongs 
and  the  evils  of  government  and  society, 
and  when  it  was  a  question  of  assailing 
these  abuses  and  uprooting  them,  and 
securing  for  the  people  their  own,  he 
could  not  tolerate  anything  that  looked 
like  hesitation  or  timidity,  nor  did  he 
take  any  stock  in  the  philosophy  which 
teaches  the  wisdom  of  bearing  known 
ills  in  preference  to  hazarding  unknown 
ones. 

It  follows  from  all  this  that  Mr.  Ford, 
able,  honest,  courageous  as  he  was,  was 
not  always  regarded  as  a  safe  party 
leader.  The  radicals  in  this  world  per- 
form invaluable  services  to  mankind. 
They  are  John  the  Baptists  crying  in 
the  wilderness  and  heralding  the  dawn  of 
a  better  day.  They  are  Moseses  who 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  255 

show,  but  do  not  enter,  the  promised 
land.  They  agitate,  they  educate,  they 
inspire,  they  point  the  way  ;  it  is  seldom 
their  fortune  to  marshal  their  fellows  in 
the  crucial  struggle ;  to  lead  them  out  of 
the  valleys  to  the  mountain  tops,  where 
victory  dwells.  Of  such  was  Rochester 
Ford. 

An  able  and  successful  lawyer,  an 
accomplished  scholar,  a  chivalrous  knight 
errant  in  politics,  a  reader  of  many  books 
and  a  thinker  of  real  power ;  such  was 
Rochester  Ford  to  the  community  at 
large.  To  those  who  knew  him  intimately 
he  was  more  than  all  this :  he  was  a  man 
of  great  heart,  of  noble  impulses,  of  deep 
affections,  of  profound  religious  convic- 
tions. He  loved  the  beautiful  things  of 
nature  and  art,  books,  pictures,  music, 
children,  the  sea,  the  desert,  the  moun- 
tains. Vigorous,  scathing,  aggressive 
with  his  pen ;  a  born  fighter,  a  hard 
hitter,  he  was  withal  the  most  amiable, 
the  kindest,  the  most  lovable  of  men. 


256  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

He  loved  his  friends,  and  though  he 
sometimes  tried  to  hate  his  enemies,  there 
was  so  much  of  the  milk  of  human  kind- 
ness in  his  sweet  and  gentle  nature  that 
he  was  always  ready  to  forgive  them  with- 
out the  asking,  and  as  ready  to  serve 
them  as  though  he  had  never  massed  his 
vengeance  to  smite  them. 

Truly  a  splendid,  knightly  figure  is 
gone;  a  high-minded  gentleman  has 
passed  away ;  a  robust  mentality,  a  noble 
character  has  vanished ;  a  great  soul  has 
faded  into  the  infinite  azure  of  the  eternal. 
After  his  long  and  manful  struggle  with 
disease,  he  sleeps  well.  He  leaves  a 
name  which  will  always  be  honored  in 
Arizona  and  a  memory  which  will  be 
cherished  by  all  who  knew  the  true 
nobility  of  the  man. 

ROCHESTER  FORD. 

From  the  Tucson  Star. 

In  the  death  of  Eochester  Ford,  Tuc- 
son has  lost  one  of  its  best  citizens,  a 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  257 

good  lawyer  and  a  Christian  gentleman. 
Mr.  Ford  lived  in  Tucson  twelve  years. 
He  came  here  an  invalid  and  soon  re- 
gained sufficient  strength  to  practice  his 
profession  of  law,  in  which  he  acquired  a 
profitable  clientage.  He  was  accepted  as 
a  good  lawyer  and  enjoyed  the  confidence 
of  the  court  and  the  community.  He  was 
identified  with  all  movements  in  the  in- 
terest of  good  government.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  church,  in  which 
he  was  a  diligent  worker  and  a  large  con- 
tributor to  its  support.  In  fact,  he  was 
a  liberal  supporter  of  all  the  churches  and 
all  movements  which  had  for  their  pur- 
pose the  betterment  of  the  community  as 
he  viewed  it. 

Mr.  Ford  enjoyed  a  cultured  mind. 
He  had  been  a  professor  of  law  in  the 
Washington  University  at  St.  Louis.  He 
was  appointed  Chancellor  of  the  University 
of  Arizona  by  Governor  Hughes,  which 
office  he  filled  most  acceptably  for  two 
years.  He  was  afterward  identified  with 


258  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

the  citizens  Good  Government  Club  of 
Tucson,  which  reformed,  in  a  measure, 
the  county  government,  Mr.  Ford  repre- 
senting the  club  in  the  courts.  He  was 
for  two  years  city  attorney,  which  office 
he  filled  with  much  credit  to  himself  and 
benefit  to  the  city. 

Mr.  Ford  was  a  strong  character,  of 
strong  convictions  and  a  moral  courage 
which  led  him  to  stand  for  the  right 
without  regard  to  consequences.  This 
was  his  strong  trait  of  character.  Now 
that  he  has  passed  away,  it  can  be  truly 
said  that  his  life  was  not  in  vain.  He  did 
much  good  for  the  community  in  which 
he  lived.  He  was  always  the  exemplary 
gentleman  reflecting  a  good  light,  pure, 
moral  and  religious  influences.  The  de- 
ceased was  a  striking  example  of  good 
fruits  which  come  from  early  Christian 
training.  His  presence  and  his  influence 
will  be  missed  in  this  community,  where 
many  will  grieve  to  learn  of  his  death. 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  259 

DEATH    OF   ROCHESTER   FORD. 

Word  and  Way,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Our  brother,  Rochester  Ford,  was  one 
of  the  brightest  sons  of  Missouri.  He 
was  a  great  lawyer  and  only  46  years  of 
age.  The  condition  of  his  health  com- 
pelled him  to  give  up  one  of  the  most 
lucrative  law  practices  in  St.  Louis  some 
twelve  years  ago,  and  to  reside  in  Ari- 
zona, from  whence  he  came  home  to  die 
some  five  weeks  before  his  decease.  I 
have  no  words  sufficient  to  express  my 
sympathy  for,  and  admiration  of  the  aged 
father.  Dr.  Ford  is  bearing  the  affliction 
with  that  fortitude  which  becomes  a  man 
of  his  great  grace  and  gifts.  For  more 
than  fifty  years  Dr.  Ford  and  his  gifted 
wife,  Mrs.  Sallie  Rochester  Ford,  have 
been  among  the  most  conspicuous  persons 
in  the  Baptist  ranks  in  the  Mississippi 
Valley. 

Western  Recorder. 

Rev.  Dr.  S.  H.  and  Mrs.  Sally  Roch- 
ester Ford,  of  St.  Louis,  have  the  sym- 


260  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

pathy  of  their  many  friends,  both  South 
and  North,  in  the  loss  of  their  son  Roch- 
ester Ford,  a  man  of  brilliant  intellect, 
of  fervent  Christian  spirit,  who  had  won 
a  high  place  by  his  ability  and  integrity, 
before  he  was  stricken  with  grip,  some 
twelve  years  ago,  and  entered  upon  the 
decline  which  ended  in  his  death  on  the 
13th  inst.,  at  the  age  of  forty -six  years. 
As  we  go  to  press  we  hear  of  the  death 
of  Rochester  Ford,  son  of  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
S.  H.  Ford.  It  is  a  great  loss  to  the 
world  as  well  as  to  his  devoted  parents. 
He  was  a  man  of  brilliant  intellect  and 
true  piety. 

ROCHESTER  FORD. 
Tucson  Post. 

News  reached  Tucson  to-day  of  the 
death  of  Rochester  Ford  at  the  home  of 
his  parents  in  St.  Louis  County,  Missouri, 
on  Thursday  evening.  Mr.  Ford  left 
Tucson  about  six  weeks  ago  to  make  his 
annual  visit  to  his  old  home  and  enjoy 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  261 

his  usual  summer  vacation.  He  was  a 
victim  of  hepatization  of  the  lungs,  and 
had  fought  the  disease  with  system  and 
more  or  less  success  for  more  than  a 
dozen  years. 

He  was  46  years  old,  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky and  a  graduate  of  Washington 
University  at  St.  Louis,  in  which  insti- 
tution he  was  for  a  time  professor  of  law. 
He  came  to  live  in  Tucson  in  1891  and 
resided  here  ever  since,  having  succeeded 
in  reaching  honorable  distinction  in  the 
profession  of  law  as  well  as  accumulating 
considerable  property.  He  was  city  at- 
torney of  Tucson  for  two  years,  and  had 
been  engaged  in  much  important  litiga- 
tion affecting  the  city  and  county.  He 
was  special  counsel  in  the  "  wedge"  suits 
and  was  also  employed  by  Pima  County 
to  carry  the  narrow  gauge  bonds  case 
to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States. 

Mr.  Ford  took  an  active  interest  in 
public  affairs  and  was  an  uncompromis- 


262  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

ing  Democrat  in  politics.  He  was  a  man 
of  austere  life  and  of  a  deep  religious 
temperament.  His  father  who  survives 
him  is  a  minister  of  the  Baptist  church, 
and  his  mother,  who  visited  Tucson  last 
winter,  is  the  author  of  some  successful 
books.  Mr.  Ford,  like  his  parents,  was 
a  devout  Baptist,  but  he  was  not  narrow 
in  religious  matters  and  all  who  revered 
God  were  his  brethren. 

Mr.  Ford  stood  very  high  in  his  profes- 
sion and  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  ablest 
lawyers  in  Arizona.  He  had  an  exten- 
sive practice,  but  of  late  years  did  not 
care  to  exert  himself  overmuch  as  he  felt 
the  constant  necessity  of  nursing  his 
health.  While  the  condition  of  his 
health  prevented  him  from  participating 
in  the  social  life  of  the  community,  he 
had  many  friends  and  keenly  enjoyed 
good  company.  He  had  a  keen  sense  of 
humor  and  a  kindly  wit.  He  was  agree- 
able, generous  and  charitable  and  never 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  263 

turned  a  deaf  ear  to  the  needy  or  refused 
a  call  for  assistance. 

Mr.  Ford  never  forgot  the  responsi- 
bility of  his  citizenship  and  never  evaded 
a  public  duty.  He  was  a  true  patriot 
and  a  good  honest  partisan.  He  was 
a  thorough  believer  in  the  ultimate  wis- 
dom and  common  sense  of  the  people, 
and  was  a  profound  student  of  govern- 
ment and  an  accurate  observer  of  pass- 
ing events. 

"  CUT  SHORT  "  —  DEATH  ENDS  WORK 
OP  THE  HON.  ROCHESTER  FORD  — 
WAS  BORN  IN  LOUISVILLE  —  MEM- 
BER OF  WIDELY  KNOWN  BAPTIST 
FAMILY  —  HIS  SUCCESS  IN  THE  LAW. 
Louisville  "  Courier  Journal." 

The  many  friends  here  of  the  Hon. 
Rochester  Ford  will  learn  with  regret 
that  he  died  recently  at  his  home  near 
St.  Louis,  Mo.  Mr.  Ford  was  the  son 
of  Dr.  S.  H.  Ford  and  Mrs.  Sallie  Roch- 
ester Ford,  who  were  once  well-known 


264  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

in  this  city  and  in  Kentucky.  Mrs. 
Ford  was  for  many  years  the  corre- 
spondent for  the  old  Louisville  Cou- 
rier. Both  she  and  Dr.  Ford  were 
leading  Baptists  here. 


CHAPTEE    XXVI. 

HON.    ROCHESTER   FORD. 

(Words  of  Sympathy  by  Mrs.  Sarah  S.  Dodge.) 

Folded  the  tent,  that  thro'  life's  march, 

Camped  closest  by  your  side! 
Thro'  victory  grand,  or  dark  defeat, 

That  pennant  waved,  your  eye  to  greet, 
Whatever  might  betide! 

Thro'  desert  waste,  or  sunless  glade, 
Thro'  sunshine  struggling  with  the  shade  — 

Thro'  life's  oases,  bright  as  brief, 
That  cheered  you  in  your  hours  of  grief, 

Now  casts  a  shadow  wide! 

No  more  with  you,  the  tf  onward  march  " 

The  impetus  of  life, 
The  loyal  heart,  lit  by  love's  ray, 

That  braved  your  danger,  day  by  day  — 
That  ministered  in  joy,  or  grief, 

Heaven  sent  the  signal,  gave  relief, 
Ended  for  one  the  strife ! 

The  feet  that  journeyed  with  you  long, 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  265 

How  strangely  quiet  grown! 

Foot  sore,  and  weary  of  life's  march, 
Left  you  bereft  —  alone. 

I  mingle  with  your  tears  of  grief, 

With  you  I  sad  bewail, 
I  clasp  your  hand  in  friendship  true, 

The  darkened  cloud  that  hangs  o'er  you, 
To  me  doth  bring  its  shadow  too, 

Its  chilling  icy  gale, 
But  I,  who  dwell  in  lowly  vale, 

While  you  the  mountains  climb  — 
Can  one  stray  note  of  sympathy, 

Reach  up  to  heights  sublime? 
Can  I  essay  my  simple  lay? 
Beyond  majestic  clouds  of  light 

That  pile  the  wending  slope 
I  catch  the  occidental  glow 

That  speaks  of  brighest  hope 
And  by  those  radiant  golden  beams 

That  light  the  veil  of  even 
I  wistful  watch  their  lines  portray 

The  blessedness  of  heaven, 

For,  far  beyond  life's  narrow  scope 
Where  drifting  clouds  pellucid  slope 

I  greet  the  inspired  Word ; 
I  see  it  in  the  dazzling  light 

It's  wafted  o'er  the  mountain  height 
u  Forever  with  the  Lord." 


266  ROCHESTER   FORD. 


LINES  IN    MEMORY  OF   HON.    ROCHESTER  FORD, 

At  the  dawn  of  a  beautiful  morning 

The  clouds  were  lifted  away, 

And  a  chariot  and  concourse  of  angels 

Relieved  from  its  casement  of  clay 

The  spirit  so  true,  of  our  loved  one, 

And  tenderly  wafted  it  o'er 

The  dark  surging  billows  of  Jordan 

To  its  rest  on  the  heavenly  shore. 

Now  free  from  all  suffering  and  sorrow, 

In  bliss  he  shall  dwell  evermore. 

And  'mid  the  bright  hosts  of  glad  angels 

Only  rapturous  praise  shall  he  know, 

Clasping  hands  with  God's  pure  ransomed  children, 

In  worship  of  Father  and  Son ; 

He'll  wait  at  the  opening  portals 

For  his  loved  ones  to  come,  one  by  one. 

MRS.  M.  J.  CLEMSON. 


A   SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.  267 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

11  LIVINGSTON  PARK, 
ROCHESTER,  N".  Y. 
Jany.  9,  1904. 
MY  DEAR  MRS.  FORD  : 

For  fifty  years  I  have  been  led  beside 
the  death  beds  and  the  graves  of 
my  own  children,  sisters,  father  and 
mother — the  father  and  mother  of  my 
wife,  and  her  sisters  and  brothers,  and 
last  of  all,  my  wife,  whose  life  was  a 
daily  walk  with  the  Savior  who  loved 
her  and  bought  her  with  His  blood, 
passed  away  in  an  instant  on  Thanksgiv- 
ing morning  five  years  ago.  Besides 
these,  two  servants,  Christian  women, 
who  had  lived  with  us  near  forty  years, 
passed  away  before  Mrs.  Osgood.  Thus, 
with  the  longing  that  comes  to  every 


268  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

heart  crushed  by  the  departure  of  the 
dearest  of  earth,  I  have  wrestled  with 
the  questions  you  put  to  me,  and  have 
never  found  an  answer  in  any  part  of  the 
Bible.  But  I  have  found  unshaken  rest 
and  peace  in  the  certainty  that  those 
whom  Jesus  bought  with  His  precious 
blood  and  taught  to  love  and  serve  Him 
here,  are  with  Him  forever,  John  12 : 
26,17:24. 

They  are  made  like  Him.  Phil.  3  :  21 ; 
Kom.8:29.  And  serve  Him.  Rev.  7:15, 
22  :  3.  Where  there  is  no  tears  nor  death 
nor  mourning,  nor  crying,  nor  pain,  any 
more.  Rev.  21 :  4.  God  does  for  them 
far  above  all  we  can  ask  or  think.  It  is 
the  joy  of  my  heart  and  the  thanksgiving 
of  my  tongue,  that  the  gentle,  tender 
woman  who  blessed  my  life  shall  never 
again  know  sorrow  and  pain,  but  lives 
forevermore  in  joy  unspeakable  and  full 
of  glory. 

About  the  intermediate  state  I  know 
nothing.  I  do  not  even  know  what  a 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  269 

spirit  is.  I  cannot  define  a  spirit,  except 
by  negations.  It  is  not  this  or  that,  but 
what  a  spirit  is  we  are  nowhere  told.  So 
I  must  let  that  alone.  I  see  that  when 
the  inhabitants  (redeemed)  of  heaven 
appear  to  men  on  earth,  they  have  bodies 
like  ours.  Matt.  17  :  3,  4.  And  when  the 
angels  appear  to  men  they  also  have  bod- 
ies like  ours.  Math.  28 :  24.  And  speak 
in  the  languages  of  earth.  But  whether 
these  forms  are  permanent  I  do  not  know. 
And  yet  when  heaven  was  opened  to  John 
he  saw  Christ  plainly,  and  he  distin- 
guished the  forms  of  angels,  elders, 
saints,  and  could  distinguish  what  each 
did  and  said. 

That  Jesus  our  God  and  Savior  is  now 
in  heaven  —  yea  higher  than  the  heav- 
ens —  Eph.  4 : 10,  6 :  9 ;  Phil.  3 :  90 ;  Col. 
4:1;  Heb.  14,  7  : 26,  18 : 1.  Sitting  now 
on  the  throne  of  God.  Matt.  26 :  64 ;  Acts 
7:56;  Mark  16:19;  Acts  2: 33;  Eom. 
8  :  34 ;  Eph.  1 :  20 ;  Col.  3:1;  Heb.  1 :  3, 
10:12,  12:2;  1  Pet.  3:22;  Rev.  5:7. 


270  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

And  is  now  worshiped  by  all  created  be- 
ings in  heaven.  Eph.  1 : 10  and  20 :  21 ; 
Phil.  2:9-11;  Eev.  5:9-14.  For  He 
created  them  all.  John  11:3-10;  Cor. 
8:6;  Col.  1 :  15-17 ;  Heb.  1 :  2-10.  And 
to  worship  Him  is  to  glorify  the  Father. 
Phil.  2:10-11.  This  is  the  constant 
repetition  of  the  New  Testament.  Paul's 
paradise  is  in  the  third  (highest)  heaven. 
2  Cor.  12 :  2,  4.  And  Christ's  paradise. 
(Luke  23:  43),  is  where  the  golden  city 
is  and  the  river  from  the  throne  of  God 
and  the  Lamb  and  the  tree  of  life.  Eev. 
2 :  7 ;  22 :  2-14-19. 

When  we  are  absent  from  the  body  we 
are  at  home  with  the  Lord  (2  Cor.  5 :  8) 
(Am.  Standard  Revision),  who  is  in 
heaven  —  at  the  right  hand  of  God  on 
His  throne.  Paul  refused  to  answer  the 
question  :  "  With  what  manner  of  body 
do  they  come?"  —  except  by  analogy 
which  teaches  us  nothing  beyond  the 
fact  that  it  will  be  a  body  as  pleases 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  271 

God   and   our    own    body  —  a   spiritual 
body. 

Had  it  been  for  our  good,  God  would 
have  made  known  to  us  more  on  this  sub- 
ject, but  as  we  can  only  understand  heav- 
enly things  by  earthly  images  —  which  are 
copies  and  shadows  of  heavenly  things  — 
not  the  very  image  of  things,  and  show 
to  us  as  the  God-appointed  tabernacle 
of  old  that  the  way  into  these  mysteries 
of  what  shall  be  hereafter  hath  not  yet 
been  made  manifest.  But  God  has  given 
us  something  better  then  sight  through 
a  glass  darkly  —  the  sure  hope  of 
"  Things  which  eye  hath  not  seen,  nor 
ear  heard  and  which  entered  not  into 
the  heart  of  man  —  the  things  God  hath 
prepared  for  them  that  love  Him." 

There  I  pillow  my  head  and  rest  in 
faith  and  hope. 

I  do  not  know,  my  dear  Mrs.  Ford,  that 
I  have  answered  your  question  at  all  to 
your  satisfaction,  but  it  has  been  a  great 


272  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

pleasure  to  me  at  least  to  make  the  at- 
tempt. 

I  remain,  with  great  respect, 

HOWARD  OSGOOD. 


CROZER    THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY. 

CHESTER,  PA.,  Jan.  14,  1904. 
MY  DEAR  MRS.  FORD  : 

With  all  my  heart  I  wish  I  could  give 
you  light  on  the  subject  on  which  you 
ask  my  opinion.  I  cannot  tell  how  many 
times  the  question  has  been  asked  me  and 
almost  always  by  sorrowing  hearts  whose 
grief  I  would  give  a  great  deal  to  be  able 
to  heal. 

I  am  always  compelled  to  give  the  same 
answer  to  the  question  —  the  confession 
of  my  utter  ignorance.  "  But  you  must 
have  some  opinion,"  said  my  own  child 
to  me  after  her  mother's  death.  No;  I 
have  none.  I  have  studied  and  thought 
and  read  —  no  one  but  God  can  give  me 
any  information  and  I  cannot  find  the 


A  SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.  273 

slightest  answer  from  Him  to  my  anxious 
questioning. 

And  this  fact  shows  me  that  any  in- 
formation could  do  us  no  good.  I  am 
sure  that  He  loves  us  so  much  that  if  a 
knowledge  of  the  unseen  would  be  of  any 
benefit  to  us  or  increase  our  happiness 
He  would  impart  it.  I  trust  His  love  for 
everything  else.  I  must  trust  Him  for 
that.  I  know  that  those  who  are  asleep 
are  sleeping  in  Jesus;  that  those  who 
have  departed  are  with  Him,  in  that  I 
rest  and  wait  for  the  revelation  of  the 
future. 

My  dear  sister,  I  sympathize  deeply 
with  you.  Out  of  this  cloud  of  deep 
darkness  some  day  will  come  God's  own 
light.  Wait  patiently  for  it  and  remem- 
ber you  are  one  of  those  for  whom  Christ 
has  prayed  that  your  faith  fail  not. 

Jan.  17.  I  have  thought  a  great  deal 
of  you  since  I  read  your  sorrowful  letter, 
and  wished  that  I  could  say  some  word 
of  comfort.  Several  of  my  very  dear 

18 


274  ROCHESTER    FORD. 

friends  have  drunk  the  bitter  cup  which 
has  been  put  to  your  lips  and  have  seen 
their  brightest  hopes  blasted.  Death  is 
always  an  enemy,  but  the  death  of  our 
children  is  so  unnatural !  We,  their 
parents,  expect  to  die,  and  to  be  borne 
to  our  graves  by  our  loving  and  weeping 
children.  We  leave  our  children  to  carry 
on  the  work  for  which  it  has  been  the 
joy  of  our  lives  to  prepare  them ;  but 
when  one  dies  in  the  very  fullness  of  life's 
promise,  as  did  your  son,  the  sorrow  at 
his  grave  is  only  beating  the  first  steps 
of  that  funeral  march  by  which  we  must 
walk  to  the  end  of  our  lives. 

Yet  what  a  blessing  to  have  such  a  son 
to  lose.  He,  who  has  given  him  and  has 
taken  him,  loves  you  infinitely  more  than 
you  could  love  your  boy.  Trust  your 
Father,  as  it  was  your  highest  joy  and 
honor  to  have  your  son  trust  you. 

It  has  occurred  to  me  that  perhaps  you 
might  derive  some  consolation  from  a 
page  or  two  of  a  sermon  by  Dr.  J.  R. 


A  SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.  275 

Miller,  whose  views  of  the  question  you 
ask  me,  differ  from  mine.  I  have  taken 
the  liberty  of  sending  you  a  copy  of 
"Our  New  Edens ; "  on  page  107  you 
will  find  the  beginning  of  the  portion  of 
the  sermon  to  which  I  refer.  May  God 
be  with  you  more  and  more. 

Very  truly  yours, 

HENRY  G.  WESTON. 

CHAPTEE  XXVIII. 

CONCERNING   THEM   WHO  ARE   ASLEEP   IN 
JESUS. 

While  all  dead  may  be  said  to  sleep  in 
their  graves,  it  is  said  only  of  believers, 
44  Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the 
Lord  "  —  they  fall  on  sleep.  Of  David, 
of  Stephen  and  of  those  who  die  in  the 
Lord  it  is  written,  "  They  sleep  in 
Jesus." 

How  are  they  blessed ! 

They  sleep  in  safety.  They  are  in 
the  hands  of  the  mighty  Shepherd  from 


276  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

which  none  can  ever  pluck  them.  They 
die  to  live  —  to  wake  in  new  life  and 
light.  They  do  not  rest  in  unconscious- 
ness. Our  natural  sleep  is  suspended 
consciousness  of  the  soul.  But  the  im- 
mortal spirit,  that  breath  of  God  in  man, 
and  more  especially  that  new,  that  ever- 
lasting life  imparted  to  the  believer  — 
Christ  formed  in  him  the  hope  of  glory ; 
can  never  sleep.  It  lives  as  Christ  lives. 
Annihilation,  or  soul -sleeping,  is  as  con- 
trary to  the  teachings  of  nature  as  it  is 
to  the  Word  of  God.  Every  human  be- 
ing bears  in  his  own  spirit  the  stamp  of 
eternity.  His  aspirations  for  future 
existence  are  inborn  and  quenchless. 

"  Deep  in  eternity's  dread  veil 
Ages  shall  on  ages  roll; 
But  none  shall  cast  a  withering  look 
On  man's  immortal  soul." 

Their  death  is  not  darkness.  It  is 
light  in  Christ  Jesus.  Their  death  is  not 
defeat.  "  Thanks  be  to  God  who  giveth 
us  the  victory  through  our  Lord  Jesus 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  277 

Christ."  Through  the  gloom  of  the 
valley  shines  the  light  of  His  smile,  and 
when  death  lifts  his  dart  and  the  clay 
tenement  trembles,  the  justified  soul  can 
exclaim:  "I  know  if  our  earthly  house 
of  this  tabernacle  be  dissolved  we  have  a 
building  of  God,  an  house  not  made  with 
hands  eternal  in  the  heavens.'' 

When  this  frail  body  is  dissolved  we 
have  a  place  with  God.  To  be  absent 
from  the  body  is  to  be  present  with  the 
Lord.  "  I  desire,"  said  the  inspired 
apostle,  "to  depart  and  be  with  Christ." 
The  image  in  the  original  is  to  haave 
anchor  and  be  upon  the  other  shore  with 
the  Captain  of  my  salvation.  No  soul- 
sleeping  here — no  purgatory  —  no  ob- 
scure, unnamed  place  of  departed  spirits. 
It  is  to  be  with  Christ.  It  is  to  enter 
into  eternal  habitations.  It  is  to  have 
ministered  unto  us  abundant  entrance 
into  life  and  light  and  joy  where  Christ  is. 
Toil  ceases.  The  last  battle  has  been 
fought ;  the  last  storm  endured  ;  the  last 


278  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

pain  and  the  last  doubt  felt;  the  last 
sigh  heaved  ;  the  last  prayer  uttered  ;  but 
no  such  thought  as  is  expressed  in  the 
sentiment  of  that  hymn  uttered  with  re- 
gret, "Farewell,  sweet  hour  of  prayer." 
Prayer  is  the  cry  of  the  needy.  At  death 
prayer  is  changed  to  praise ;  the  sigh  of 
sorrow  and  of  woe  into  the  triumphant 
song  of  joyous  victory. 

They  rest  in  sweet  employ.  They  re- 
pose in  the  full  fruition  of  all  that  God's 
wisdom  can  devise,  God's  love  impart, 
God's  force  protect  and  God's  treas- 
ures supply.  They  rest  in  all  the  rap- 
ture redeemed  spirits  made  perfect  can 
enjoy.  And  yet  they  wait  in  joyful  an- 
ticipation when  still  added  capacities  shall 
be  theirs  and  their  renewed  bodies,  made 
like  unto  His  glorious  body,  shall  be 
reunited  to  their  spirits. 

They  are  in  eternal  unity  with  Christ, 
eternal  glory  with  Him.  It  is  forever 
life,  forever  light,  forever  love,  forever 
peace,  forever  rest,  forever  youth,  for- 


A   SUCCESSFUL  LAWYER.  279 

ever  joy,  and  these  seven  "  f orevers  " 
make  the  seven  notes  in  the  celestial 
song,  "  To  Him  who  is  worthy  to  receive 
glory  and  honor  and  power  and  riches 
and  wisdom  and  strength  and  blessing." 

"Their  works  do  follow  them."  Their 
unfaltering  faith  and  sublime  devotion 
are  their  accepted  works  and  follow 
them.  These  tell  on  their  own  genera- 
tion and  on  all  succeeding  ages  —  shed 
sunbursts  on  the  darkness  of  earth's 
gloom.  They  clearly  point  the  way  of 
eternal  life.  Nobly  they  manifested  their 
steadfastness,  nobly  they  met  each  crisis, 
seized  opportunities,  exemplified  the 
power  of  sovereign  grace  and  ever  stood 
as  bold  champions  for  the  truth  amid  all 
opposition.  They  fell  asleep  in  Jesus, 
and  blessed,  thrice  blessed,  was  their 
death,  and  is  their  memory,  and  is  their 
influence.  "Their  works  do  follow 
them." 

Wondrous  words  are  these,  "Asleep 
in  Jesus,"  They  are  in  Christ  Jesus, 


280  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

no  condemnation  to  them.  They  are 
Christ's  purchased  possession,  a  sharer 
in  His  merits,  in  His  achievements,  His 
claims,  His  righteousness,  His  glory. 
Language  fails  to  express  the  sublime 
thought  —  identified  with  Christ  in  all  His 
rewards,  His  joys,  His  triumph,  His 
reign.  When  this  transient  life  ends, 
when  the  toil  ceases,  they  fall  asleep  in 
Jesus,  repose  in  Him,  waiting  for  the 
blissful,  waking  morn,  when  they  will 
come  with  Him  to  enter  upon  fresh  joys, 
new  employments  and  superadded  glory. 

The  view  that  some  entertain  that  the 
soul  remains  in  an  unconscious  state 
either  in  the  body  or  some  "  middle 
state"  is  absurd  and  contradictory  of 
revelation . 

The  parable  of  the  rich  man  and 
Lazarus  teaches  beyond  all  question  the 
full  consciousness  of  the  spirit  after 
death,  both  of  the  saved  and  the  lost. 
The  inspired  Paul  who  was  caught  up, 
"  whether  in  the  body  or  out  of  the  body  he 


A    SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  281 

could  not  tell  "  —  up  to  the  third  heaven 
and  heard  unspeakable  words  which  it  is 
not  lawful  for  a  man  to  utter,  must  have 
been  conscious.  If,  however,  the  spirit 
enters  a  state  of  unconsciousness  when 
it  departs  from  the  body,  he  could  not 
have  told  anything  —  his  sleeping  sense 
could  not  have  seen  the  "  third  heaven  " 
or  heard  unspeakable  words.  His  testi- 
mony proves  positively  that  a  man  out 
of  the  body  can  enter  heaven,  can  see 
and  hear  and  remember. 

But  in  addition  to  this,  he  affirms  the 
full  and  desirable  consciousness  of  the 
spirit  after  death  —  of  his  own  and  of 
all  believers.  He  assures  the  Philippians 
that  for  him  "  to  live  is  Christ"  but 
"  to  die  is  gain."  How  could  it  be  gain 
if  at  death  he  lost  all  consciousness  —  all 
the  joys  of  a  life  in  Christ?  He  adds : 
"  But  if  I  live  in  the  flesh,  this  is  the 
fruit  of  my  labor,  yet  what  I  shall  choose 
I  wot  not,  for  I  am  in  a  strait  betwixt 
two,  having  a  desire  to  depart  and  to  be 


282  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

with  Christ,  which  is  far  better." 
Christ  was  with  him  then,  "  to  live  was 
Christ,"  but  to  depart  was  to  be  with 
Christ  in  a  higher,  a  holier  nearness.  It 
was  "  far  better."  Was  it  better  to  be 
in  unconscious  sleep  till  the  body 
awakened?  Again  he  declares  this 
"gain"  by  departing,  of  all  believers. 
To  the  church  at  Corinth  he  wrote : 
"  For  we  know  that  if  our  earthly  house 
of  this  tabernacle  be  dissolved,  we  have 
a  building  of  God,  a  house  not  made 
with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens.  For 
in  this  we  groan,  earnestly  desiring  to  be 
clothed  upon  with  our  house  which  is  from 
heaven.  If  so  be  that  being  clothed, 
we  shall  not  be  found  naked.  For  we 
that  are  in  this  tabernacle  do  groan, 
being  burdened,  not  that  we  would  be 
unclothed  but  clothed  upon,  that  mor- 
tality might  be  swallowed  up  of  life.  Now 
he  that  hath  wrought  us  for  the  self-same 
thing  is  God  who  also  hath  given  unto 
us  the  earnest  of  the  Spirit,  Therefore, 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  283 

we  are  always  confident,  knowing  that 
while  we  are  at  home  in  the  body  we  are 
absent  from  the  Lord  (for  we  walk  by 
faith,  not  by  sight).  We  are  confident, 
I  say,  and  willing  rather  to  be  absent 
from  the  body  and  to  be  present  with 
the  Lord.  Wherefore  we  labor  that 
whether  present  or  absent,  we  may  be 
accepted  of  Him." 

Absent  here,  present  there ;  Heaven 
dawns,  seraphic  melodies  fall  on  the  rapt 
soul.  Supernal  visions  break  on  the 
ravished  sight,  and  the  blood-bought 
spirit  is  "  present  with  the  Lord." 

This  same  apostle  declares  that  the  de- 
parted spirit  is  "  clothed  upon  with  our 
house  which  is  from  heaven,  if  so  being 
clothed  we  shall  not  be  found  naked." 
The  "  sealed  ones"  seen  in  glory  by 
John,  "  a  great  multitude  which  no  man 
could  number,  stood  before  the  throne 
and  before  the  Lamb  CLOTHED  with  white 
robes;"  robes  of  light,  and  we  believe 
the  spirits  of  the  just  made  perfect  - 


284:  ROCHESTER    FORD. 

those  who  sleep  in  Jesus  —  are  robed  in 
light  as  with  a  garment  —  what  Adam 
lost  in  the  fall  restored  by  the  blood  of 
Christ  Jesus. 

WAS    ADAM    NAKED    BEFORE    HIS   FALL? 

He  had  no  material  clothing  but  he 
did  not  know  it,  or  feel  it.  Why  V 

God  made  man  in  His  own  image,  in 
the  image  of  God  created  He  him,  male 
and  female  created  He  them.  u  For  I 
have  created  him  for  my  glory."  How, 
we  may  reverently  ask,  could  man  made 
of  the  dust  of  the  earth  be  in  God's 
image?  God  is  light,  "  Thou  art  clothed 
with  power  and  majesty,  Thou  coverest 
Thyself  withLiGHT  AS  WITH  A  GARMENT." 
Daniel  beheld  "The  Ancient  of  Days" 
whose  garment  was  white  as  snow, 
white  as  the  light.  When  Jesus,  who 
took  upon  Him  the  "  likeness  of  sinful 
flesh,"  was  transfigured  into  the  form  of 
perfect  humanity,  "  His  raiment  was 
white  as  the  light,"  In  that  bright 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  285 

image  were  Adam  and  Eve  before  they 
sinned  and  fell,  and  lost  their  robe  of 
perfect  righteousness.  A  divine  beauty 
must  have  circled  their  God-like  forms 
as  they  trod  the  walks  of  Eden  and  nature 
did  them  reverence,  "  for  Thou  hast  made 
him  a  little  lower  than  the  angels  and 
hast  crowned  him  with  glory  and  honor. 
Thou  madest  Him  to  have  dominion  over 
the  works  of  Thy  hand.  Thou  hast  put 
all  things  under  his  feet.  But  the  apostle 
in  Hebrews  declares  the  fact :  "  But  NOW 
we  see  not  all  things  put  under  his  feet. 
The  image  of  his  Maker,  the  glory  and 
majesty  —  that  crowned  and  clothed 
him  —  were  lost  when  he  sinned  and 
fell  —  believing  Satan  rather  than  God. 
Then  their  eyes  were  opened  —  that  is 

THEY     SAW     THE       CHANGE.       The     light 

which  had  robed  them  in  the  image  of 
their  Maker  was  gone.  They  were  not 
naked  until  then,  but  now,  trembling, 
fearful,  guilty,  they  saw  their  nakedness 
and  hid  themselves  from  God. 


286  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

When  the  blood-washed  spirit  loses 
this  tenement  of  flesh  it  is  reclothed  with 
that  light.  It  is  not,  as  Paul  declares, 
found  naked,  but  clothed  upon  with  a 
house,  a  covering-,  a  garment  "  from 
heaven."  And  when  Jesus  comes  and 
those  who  sleep  with  Jesus  come  with 
Him  it  will  be  in  those  "  garments  of 
light." 

With  Him  will  be  the  unnumbered 
host  of  the  redeemed — clad  in  light  — 
and  the  dead  in  Christ  shall  rise  first  — 
these  robed  spirits  will  be  united  to  the 
raised  bodies  of  the  dead  and  that  light 
with  which  they  are  clothed,  that  house 
from  heaven,  will  wrap  in  celestial  spirit- 
ual incorruptible  beauty,  the  naked  form 
of  the  awakened  dead.  That  which  was 
sown  a  natural  body  —  naked  and  sin- 
cursed  as  was  Adam's  and  Eve's  after 
they  had  fallen  —  shall  rise  a  spiritual,  a 
glorious  body  robed  in  the  spotlessness  of 
righteousness  wrought  out  by  the  suffer- 
ing of  Christ. 


A    SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  287 

Paul  writing  to  the  Philippians  tells  us 
that  "  our  citizenship  is  in  heaven  from 
whence  we  also  wait  for  the  Savior,  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  shall  change  our 
vile  bodies  "  (R.  V.  fashion  anew  the 
body  of  our  humiliation)  that  it  may  be 
fashioned  (R.  V.  conformed)  "  like  unto 
His  glorious  body."  Its  "  humiliation  " 
was  the  withdrawal — the  loss  of  the 
light-garment  which  belonged  to  the 
sinless  body  before  man  fell.  That 
humiliation  is  removed  from  the  spirits 
made  perfect  who  "sleep  in  Jesus." 
This  humiliation  will  be  removed  from 
the  body  of  the  dead  who  have  died  in 
the  Lord,  at  the  resurrection  morning. 

Must  we  not  believe  that  ransomed 
spirits  —  those  who  have  fallen  asleep  in 
Jesus,  on  leaving  the  body  are  invested 
with  a  clothing,  wonderfully  clothed  in, 
or  supplied  with  a  medium  of  vision,  of 
expression,  of  communication,  fitting 
them  for  the  enjoyments  and  employ- 
ments of  heaven  in  a  way  and  of  a  kind 


288  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

far  beyond  our  conceptions ;  furnished 
as  to  fulfill  their  joy,  and  pass  from  one 
degree  of  glory  to  another  with  ever 
expanding  scenes  of  beatific  vision,  until 
they  shall  come  into  the  possession  of  the 
added  glory  and  completeness  of  their 
resurrection  life? 

"Now  we  see  through  a  glass  dimly 
but  then  face  to  face.  " 

Do  you  mourn  when  another  star 
Shines  out  from  the  glittering  sky? 
Do  you  weep  when  the  raging  voice  of  war 
And  the  storm  of  conflict  die? 

Then  why  should  your  tears  run  down 
And  your  heart  be  sorely  riven 
For  another  gem  in  the  Savior's  crown 
And  another  soul  in  Heaven? 

CHAPTEK  XXIX. 

HEAVEN  —  "  MY     FATHER'S       HOUSE  "  — 
MANY   MANSIONS. 

In  His  last  loving  address  to  the  dear 
disciples,  so  sad,  yet  so  consoling,  our 
blessed  Lord  said :  "  In  my  Father's 
House  are  many  mansions,  if  not  I  would 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  289 

have  told  you.  I  go  to  prepare  a  place 
for  you.  And  if  I  go  and  prepare  a  place 
for  you,  I  will  come  again  and  receive 
you  unto  myself,  that  where  I  am  there 
ye  may  be  also. 

My  Father's  house  !  Is  not  this  vast 
universe  the  house  of  my  Father,  and 
where  He  is  there  the  very  homestead  of 
heaven  —  no  matter  where  if  He  be  there : 
But  that  is  not  the  thought  that  Jesus 
here  suggests  or  intimates,  nor  that  the 
form  of  truth  that  here  He  teaches  to  the 
faith  of  His  disciples  for  their  joy  and 
consolation.  There  is  delightful  defin- 
iteness  here.  It  is  not  the  dim  incompre- 
hensible universality  of  omnipresence 
merely,  but  a  place  for  our  abode,  as  de- 
terminate as  place  is  for  us  now,  and 
with  as  intimate  home  relation  as  the 
dearest  fireside  on  this  earth  can  have, 
nay,  incomparably  more  intimate  and 
personal  and  definitely  local,  in  our 
Father's  house  in  heaven. 

It  is   that   "building   of   God,"    that 

19 


290  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

"house  not  made  with  hands,"  eternal 
in  the  heavens  to  which  the  thoughts  are 
here  carried.  Let  us  then  examine  some 
of  the  glorious  characteristics  of  that 
heavenly  building  which  is  there  our 
home. 

In  the  first  place  it  is  a  building  of  God, 
God  made  it,  with  neither  creature  nor 
created  agency  intervening.  It  is  God's 
own  immediate  work.  It  is  His  work, 
as  a  different  kind  of  work  and  in  a  very 
different  sense  from  anything  material. 
It  is  a  building  not  merely  of  God,  but 
as  the  expression  may  allow,  a  building 
proceeding  forth  from  God,  rather  as  an 
affluence  from  His  own  essence  than  an 
ordinary  exercise  or  result  of  creative 
power.  It  is  said  that  God  is  light,  also 
that  God  dwelleth  in  light.  Also  that 
we,  as  the  children  of  God,  dwell  in  God  ; 
we  are  also  called  "  children  of  light." 
If  we  know  the  immateriality  of  light  we 
might  find  in  that  something  more  than 
a  mere  type  of  our  Father's  house  in 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  291 

heaven.  This  "building  of  God"  may 
be  as  different  from  all  material  construc- 
tions or  creations  of  which  we  have  either 
knowledge  or  conception,  as  the  light 
itself  is  different  from  the  forms  of  ma- 
terial substance  which  we  see  around  us. 
In  the  second  place  it  is  a  house  not 
made  with  hands  —  not  capable  of  being 
so  made.  It  is  not  constructed  piece  by 
piece  as  all  buildings  in  the  world  are, 
but  is  one  and  indivisible  as  if  an  orb  in 
the  heavens  were  constructed  of  one  per- 
fect diamond.  Moreover  it  is  possessed 
and  inspired  with  the  attributes  of  a  spir- 
itual glory,  so  that  we  can  get  no  more 
idea  of  it  from  anything  of  material 
growth  or  construction  than  we  could  get 
an  idea  of  the  nature  or  appearance  of  the 
crystal  atmosphere  of  heaven  from  con- 
sidering the  doors  of  our  houses,  or  the 
iron  hinges  on  which  they  swing.  Hu- 
man hands  out  of  material  substances  can 
produce  structures  of  vast  magnificence 
and  splendor.  But  life  and  light  cannot 


292  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

be  handled,  cannot  be  put  together,  nor 
anything  like  them  be  made  with  hands. 
So  this  "building  of  God"  not  made 
with  hands  is  presented  as  inconceivably 
superior  in  essence  and  glory  to  anything 
suggested  by  the  frame  of  this  material 
universe. 

It  is  an  eternal  building.  In  this  re- 
spect also  it  differs  from  anything  in  this 
world,  anything  in  the  visible  universe. 
These  spheres  and  orbs  of  glory  con- 
structed with  such  infinite  skill  and  gran- 
deur, and  each  in  its  own  bosom  creat- 
ively germinating  by  laws  of  such  infinite 
complication  and  harmony,  by  principles 
of  such  divine  wisdom  and  benevolence, 
are  yet  to  be  laid  aside.  This  earth 
and  these  heavens  are  to  be  rolled 
together  as  a  scroll  though  so  divinely 
glorious.  These  elements  shall  meet 
writh  fervent  heat  and  all  nature  be  dis- 
solved in  the  chaos  of  a  final  conflagra- 
tion. But  "Thou  art  the  same  from 
everlasting  to  everlasting,"  "and  so  is 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  293 

this  building  of  God  "not  made  with 
hands,  immutable,  imperishable  like  His 
own  eternity,  the  same  forever  and  ever 
indestructible,  everlasting. 

It  is  eternal  "in  the  heavens."  It  is 
where  God  resides  in  light  inaccessible 
and  full  of  glory.  It  is  where  God  man- 
ifests the  brightness  of  His  attributes  in 
a  display  peculiar  and  endearing,  intimate 
and  local.  My  Father's  house  signified 
ever  to  our  Savior  a  divine,  beloved  and 
heavenly  abode  from  which  for  a  season 
He  had  departed. 

It  is  peculiarly  the  dwelling  place  of 
God.  That  city  of  which  we  read  in 
the  Revelation  to  John  —  that  holy  city, 
New  Jerusalem  coming  down  from  God 
out  of  heaven,  and  called  the  taber- 
nacle of  God  with  men,  having  the  glory 
of  God,  presents  the  most  distinct  and 
definite  image  which  it  has  pleased 
the  Divine  Spirit  to  shadow  forth  —  the 
place  and  nature  of  our  house  which  is 
from  heaven.  There  are  many  mansions 


294  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

there.  There  is  room  for  all  the  re- 
deemed ones  and  all  who  are  there  be- 
long there  and  the  house  belongs  to 
them,  for  they  are  heirs  of  God  and 
joint  heirs  with  Christ.  As  the  sons  of 
God  the  dwellers  in  these  mansions  have 
received  that  building  as  their  inheritance 
in  Christ.  For  them  He  has  fitted  it 
up  and  placed  it  at  their  disposal.  They 
have  their  mansions  in  fee  simple. 
They  are  not  tenants  but  heirs,  joint  heirs 
with  Christ,  who  as  a  Son  with  them  as 
sons,  abideth  in  the  house  forever.  There 
is  no  debt  upon  it — never  was  —  never 
can  be,  for  the  debts  of  the  children  in  it, 
to  whom  it  is  freely  given  of  God,  were 
all  paid  by  their  suffering,  dying  Re- 
deemer, and  to  them  it  is  given  free,  — 
full,  the  title  in  Christ  unquestioned, 
unincurnbered,  perpetual. 

HEAVEN'S  INHABITANTS. 

If    there    are    "many    mansions"    in 
'4  our   Father's    House,"     and    divinely 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  295 

glorious,  there  are  to  be  glorious  inhabit- 
ants also,  and  a  great  multitude  of  them 
whom  no  man  can  number.  u  Ye  are 
come,"  says  Paul,  "to  an  innumerable 
company  of  angels,  to  the  general 
assembly  and  church  of  the  first  born 
which  are  written  in  heaven  and  to  the 
spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect, 

"  There  will  be  the  good  and  the 
blessed,  from  all  ages  and  nations,  the 
crowned  and  the  glorified,  all,  whose 
robes  have  been  washed  and  made  white 
in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  There  will 
be  Paul  and  Peter  and  John,  and  all  the 
beloved  apostles  and  disciples,  who 
walked  with  Christ  on  earth,  and  shared 
His  personal  sufferings.  And  there  will 
be  all  those  whom  they  were  instrumen- 
tal in  bringing  to  glory.  There  will  be 
the  Bphesian,  Philippian,  Corinthian  and 
Athenian  converts.  Joseph  of  Arima- 
thea,  and  Nicodemus,  and  Dionysius  the 
Areopagite,  and  Lydia  the  seller  of 
purple,  and  Barnabas  and  Timotheus 


296  ROCHESTER  FORD. 

and  Apollos,  and  multitudes  of  others 
from  the  Apostolic  age,  will  be  there  to- 
gether. There  will  be  Philip,  and  his 
interesting  convert  the  Ethiopian,  seen 
last  on  earth  sitting  together  in  the 
chariot,  reading  of  their  Savior's  suf- 
ferings, now  beheld  in  heaven,  gazing 
together  on  their  Savior's  infinite  glory. 
There  will  be  Enoch  and  Abel,  and 
Adam  and  Noah,  and  hosts  of  shining 
witnesses  of  oldest  time.  There  will  be 
Moses  and  Elias  as  on  the  Mount  of 
Transfiguration.  There  will  be  Abra- 
ham, Isaac,  and  Jacob  in  the  Kingdom 
of  Heaven,  with  David  and  Job,  Isaiah, 
Daniel,  Jeremiah,  and  all  the  Prophets, 
and  all  who  with  them  or  through  them 
died  in  faith,  having  embraced  the  prom- 
ises. There  will  be  the  family  of  Beth- 
any, and  those  dear  ones  who  followed 
Christ  with  their  hearts,  and  ministered 
to  Him  of  their  substance.  There  will 
be  that  saint  who  washed  His  feet  with 
her  tears,  and  wiped  them  with  the  hairs 


A   SUCCESSFUL    LAWYER.  297 

of  her  head ;  and  she,  too,  who  'broke 
for  Him  her  box  of  alabaster,  and  stood 
behind  Him  weeping;  and  those  who 
followed  Him  to  the  cross,  and  watched 
Him  at  the  sepulcher.  There,  too,  will 
be  that  poor  widow  whom  Jesus  beheld 
as  she  stole  trembling  to  God's  treasury, 
and  threw  in  all  the  living  that  she  had. 
There  will  be  the  earliest  noble  army  of 
confessors  and  martyrs.  There  will  be 
the  great  companies  of  witnesses  slain  in 
the  many  persecutions  of  the  saints. 
There  will  be  the  glorified  forms  of  those 
Christian  heroes,  whose  bones  lie  bleach- 
ing in  the  mountain  snows,  and  those 
whose  life  wore  out  in  dungeons,  or  who 
by  racking  tortures  rode  to  heaven  in 
fire.  "What  a  congregation  of  the  good 
from  every  clime,  and  every  nation! 
What  spirits  of  the  just  made  perfect,  in 
assembled  hosts,  of  men  whose  memory 
is  sweet  on  earth,  and  around  any  one  of 
whom,  if  seen  again  on  earth  in  person, 
men  would  crowd  in  homage  and  admira- 


298  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

tion  !  Think  of  meeting  them  together ! 
Think  of  being  made  worthy  to  meet 
them !  Think  of  the  only  condition  on 
which  we  can  meet  them,  by  a  participa- 
tion in  the  life  and  likeness  of  one  com- 
mon Savior." 

No  doubt  there  will  be  many  families 
in  heaven,  many  whole  households  trans- 
planted entire,  not  one  left  out  or  miss- 
ing. There  will  be  children  gathered  by 
the  piety  of  parents  and  parents  gath- 
ered by  the  piety  of  children.  Whole 
families  saved  by  the  faith  and  prayers 
of  one.  There  are  children  in  heaven  ; 
there  are  babes  in  heaven,  and  there 
must  be  an  infants'  heavenly  discipline 
there.  "  Of  such,"  said  our  blessed 
Lord,  "is  the  kingdom  of  heaven,"  and 
we  may  suppose  He  had  in  view  not  only 
the  child-like  temper  and  disposition  of  a 
new-born  soul  in  His  kingdom  here,  but 
the  fact  that  the  kingdom  of  the  unre- 
deemed there  is  made  up  in  so  great  a 
degree  of  little  children. 


A    SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  299 

LIFE    IN   HEAVEN. 

Life  in  heaven  is  a  perfect  life.  They 
who  enter  upon  it  are  without  fault  be- 
fore the  throne  of  God. 

There  is  no  sin,  no  defilement,  no  im- 
perfection, no  spot,  no  wrinkle,  "  nor  any 
such  thing,"  not  only  no  imperfection 
but,  on  the  contrary,  a  purity  and  per- 
fection so  infinite  that  it  is  just  a  partici- 
pation of  God's  own  holiness,  a  trans- 
formation and  transfiguration  into  the 
righteousness  of  the  Lord  of  Life  and 
Glory.  The  glory  and  the  bliss  of  such 
perfect,  absolute,  unspotted  holiness  are 
beyond  the  possibility  of  our  conception 
in  this  mortal  state ;  and  therefore  the 
inspired  apostle  himself  is  compelled  to 
say  that  it  doth  not  yet  appear  what  we 
shall  be,  only  this,  we  know  that  we 
shall  be  like  Christ.  And  this  perfec- 
tion in  His  likeness  will  be  of  body,  as 
well  as  spirit,  because  He  will  change 
even  the  body  of  our  humiliation  that  it 


300  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

may  be  fashioned  according  to  His  glo- 
rious body.  We  cannot,  in  our  mortal 
state,  have  any  adequate  idea  of  the  infi- 
nite glory  and  blissfulness  even  of  a  per- 
fect freedom  from  sin  ;  but  as  to  the  posi- 
tive glory  of  appearing  in  Christ's  likeness 
neither  the  heart  nor  imagination  of  man 
ever  yet  began  the  most  distant  concep- 
tion of  it,  except  as  God  deigns  an  other- 
wise incommunicable  revelation,  by  His 
Spirit. 

It  is  a  social  life  in  which  all  the  com- 
munication and  companionable  tenden- 
cies of  our  natures  and  powers  of  our 
being  will  be  exercised  in  an  enjoyment 
ten  thousandfold  intensified  by  beng  re- 
flected from,  and  shared  with  the  beatific 
experience  of  others.  It  is  remarkable, 
as  an  indication  of  the  glory  of  the  social 
life  of  heaven,  and  the  activity  and  bliss- 
fulness  of  mutual  thought  and  affection 
interchanged  and  ardent  there,  that  Paul 
introduces  us  to  the  innumerable  com- 
pany of  angels  and  the  general  assembly 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  301 

and  church  of  the  first  born  whose  names 
are  written  in  heaven,  and  to  the  spirits 
of  the  just  made  perfect.  We  are  to  come 
to  such  vast  and  glorious  assemblages,  to 
scenes  and  objects  so  transporting,  even 
to  be  looked  at  and  admired,  but  how 
much  more  enrapturing  to  go  in  and  out 
among  them,  holding  communion  with 
them.  The  very  sight  of  others  in  glory 
will  be  infinite  joy,  a  study  of  salvation, 
a  rapture  of  delight.  There  will  be  so 
much  to  love  and  admire  in  every  crea- 
ture —  every  creature  will  be  so  full  of 
glory,  so  ravishing  a  reflection  of  the 
glory  of  the  Savior  that  eternity  might 
be  occupied  in  silently  gazing  and 
adoring.  And  even  so  the  Lord  Jesus 
at  His  coming  with  His  saints  will  be 
admired  in  all  who  believe. 

There  will  be  INFINITE  SOCIABLENESS  in 
heaven.  That  life  will  be  the  perfection 
of  a  social  life  as  truly  as  it  will  be  a  life 
filled  with  all  the  fullness  of  God.  There 
will  be  the  good  and  the  glorious  of  all 


302  ROCHESTER    FORD. 

ages,  and  all  worlds  to  love  and  rejoice 
with.  There  will  be  communion  among 
angels  and  saints  sweeter  than  the  con- 
versation on  the  way  to  Emmaus.  More 
frank  and  loving  than  ever  could  have 
been  imagined  in  ten  thousand  infinite  di- 
rections and  disclosures  of  mutual  history 
and  character,  in  the  suggestion,  in- 
vestigation and  comparison  of  thought 
amidst  the  providence,  works,  attributes 
and  revelations  of  the  Infinite  God. 

It  is  a  life  of  blissful  activity.  There 
will  be  employment  enough  in  heaven 
and  they  need  no  rest  day  nor  night  nor 
ever  experience  any  exhaustion  of  their 
energies.  Every  intellectual  capacity 
will  be  carried  to  the  highest  possible 
exercise  in  studying  the  divine  attributes 
and  accomplishing  the  Divine  will. 

The  individual  will,  being  in  every 
respect  one  with  God's,  and  the  whole 
soul  filled  with  His  love,  the  activity  of 
heaven  in  doing  His  will  must  be  spon- 
taneous and  infinitely  delightful,  perpet- 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  303 

ual  and  unchangeable.  God's  will  is  the 
happiness  of  the  redeemed  soul  and 
activity  in  doing  it  would  be  the  irre- 
pressible expression  of  such  happiness. 
It  is  a  progressive  life.  What  might  not 
be  accomplished  in  a  thousand  years  on 
earth  with  energies  unfettered  and  untired, 
a  heart  filled  with  God's  love  and  all  the 
powers  of  the  whole  being  employed  and 
absorbed  with  inexhaustible  spontaneous 
delight  and  zeal  in  His  service.  But  a 
thousand  years  are  as  but  one  day  in  the 
conception  and  incomputable  arithmetic 
of  an  endless  life.  Our  plans  on  earth 
are  contracted,  fragmentary,  broken,  in- 
complete, but  in  the  security  and  infini- 
tude of  an  endless  life  there  may  be  plans 
even  by  finite  minds  encompassing  ages 
and  worlds.  And  there  will  be  nothing 
to  prevent  the  execution  of  them,  no  fear 
of  interruption  by  death,  no  doubt  or  in- 
decision of  mind,  no  inward  conflict,  no 
external  foes,  no  enfeebling  of  the 
energies  by  sickness  or  unwillingness 


304  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

nor  distracting  of  mind  by  temptation 
nor  crippling  of  them  by  want  of 
means,  nor  any  dividing  of  them  as  in 
this  world,  between  present,  and  fu- 
ture, temporal  and  eternal,  earthly 
and  divine.  The  understanding  will  be 
divinely  illuminated,  the  mental  vision 
seeing  no  more  as  through  a  glass  darkly 
but  face  to  face,  and  the  memory  no 
longer  treacherous  and  feeble  but  capa- 
cious and  retentive  beyond  all  bounds. 
There  will  be  no  haste,  no  anxiety,  but 
a  divine  and  holy  leisure  and  serenity  of 
mind,  even  in  the  swiftest,  grandest, 
onward  excitement  and  progress.  It  is 
only  in  the  power  and  triumph  of  an  end- 
less life  that  any  creature  of  this  restless 
world  can  ever  be  at  leisure.  But  there 
we  shall  have  eternity  at  our  disposal 
and  all  our  work,  glorious  and  unem- 
barrassed, may  move  on  forever  and  ever. 
There  will  be  progression  in  holiness. 
There  can,  indeed,  be  no  addition  made 
to  the  righteousness  of  Christ,  and  that 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYER.  305 

is  what  the  believer  is  clothed  with  from 
the  outset,  and  that  is  what  every  re- 
deemed soul  will  reflect  in  glory  ever- 
lasting. The  glory,  the  brightness,  the 
worth  of  that  holiness  will  continually  be 
increasing  in  the  creature,  because  it  is 
infinite  in  the  Creator,  and  the  soul  will 
forever  be  coming  into  nearer  and  nearer 
resemblance  to  God  in  Christ. 

There  will  be  progression  in  the  power 
of  holy  habit.  How  glorious  is  this 
certainty !  It  shall  be  a  power  of  life 
that  all  the  opposing  powers  in  the  uni- 
verse might  be  let  loose  upon  with  safety, 
might  war  against  it  and  should  not 
overcome,  should  not  start  one  impulse 
in  the  soul,  or  one  thought  or  motive 
from  its  foundation  in  holiness  and  its 
confirmed,  immutable  fastening  to  the 
throne  and  being  of  God  and  its  direc- 
tion in  His  love  and  glory. 

There  will  also  be  progression  in  knowl- 
edge. There  will  be  boundless  room  for 
this  throughout  eternity,  and  in  this  par- 


306  ROCHESTER   FORD. 

ticular  easier  that  in  any  other.  The  in- 
comprehensible infinitude  of  God  is  before 
you  and  what  you  do  know  though  it 
may  after  the  lapse  of  countless  ages 
seem  as  an  absolute  infinitude  already  con- 
quered, is  yet  as  nothing  in  comparison 
with  what  you  do  not  know.  Oh,  the  in- 
comprehensibility, and  the  eternity  and 
the  infinitude  of  God  ! 

Again,  that  life  is  eternally  progres- 
sive in  enjoyment,  in  delight,  in  happi- 
ness, inconceivable,  unutterable.  Forever 
increasing  with  the  increase  of  the 
knowledge  of  God  in  Christ.  Ages  on 
ages  shall  witness  an  undiminished  fresh- 
ness and  novelty  in  the  glory  still  to  be 
revealed,  a  capacity  of  bliss  ever  enlarg- 
ing, and  a  reality  of  bliss  forever  accu- 
mulating. The  bliss  arising  from  the 
knowledge  and  the  love  of  God  not  only 
never  can  have  any  limit,  but  in  the 
nature  of  things  must  be  positively  and 
infinitely  progressive.  What  raptures 
are  produced  even  now,  even  in  this 


A   SUCCESSFUL   LAWYEK.  307 

world,  even  in  the  midst  of  suffering  and 
torture  by  the  manifestation  of  God  to 
the  soul.  It  is  a  power  and  a  mystery 
of  bliss  beyond  the  reach  of  mortal  natu- 
ral philosophy.  Let  reason  and  natu- 
ralism and  rationalism  do  the  utmost  with 
their  forces,  they  can  produce  nothing 
like  this.  It  is  God's  own  mystery, 
God's  own  glory,  God's  own  gift,  God's 
sole  almighty  power.  Who  shall  set 
any  limits  to  the  happiness  of  the  soul 
in  Him,  in  a  world  triumphant  over  all 
evil  where  there  is  no  more  sin,  doubt, 
darkness,  unbelief,  pain  or  suffering,  but 
pure,  clear,  celestial  light  within  and  with- 
out, —  the  region  of  the  Paradise  of  God 
to  dwell  in  and  the  peace  of  God  which 
passeth  all  understanding,  filling  the  soul 
and  expanding  it  through  the  eternal 
ages."  —  Rev.  GeorgeB.  Ckeever,  D.D. 

«  *  AND  THERE  SHALL  BE  NO  NIGHT  THERE  AND 
THEY  NEED  NO  CANDLE,  NEITHER  LIGHT  OF 
THE  SUN,  FOR  THE  LORD  GOD  GIVETH  THEM 


308         ROCHESTER  FORD. 

LIGHT  AND  THEY  SHALL  REIGN  FOREVER  AND 
EVER. 

'  '  AND  THERE  SHALL  BE  NO  MORE  CURSE  BUT 
THE  THRONE  OF  GOD  AND  THE  LAMB  SHALL 
BE  IN  IT  AND  HlS  SERVANTS  SHALL  SERVE  HlM, 
AND  THEY  SHALL  SEE  HlS  FACE  AND  HlS 
NAME  SHALL  BE  IN  THEIR  FOREHEADS." 

"DEATH     IS    SWALLOWED     UP 
IN  VICTORY." 


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